UNM opposition slams Gov’t for ‘undermining’ EU Integration

Senior figures from Georgia’s United National Movement opposition have accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of deliberately jeopardising the country’s European Union aspirations, warning that continued governance by what they called the “Russian Dream” risked isolating Georgia from the West.

Speaking on Tuesday, Tina Bokuchava, chair of the UNM, claimed the government was actively working to reverse Georgia’s key European achievements, including its EU candidate status, the Association Agreement, and the visa-free travel regime with the Schengen Area.

“‘Russian Dream’ is doing everything it can to strip Georgia and its citizens of these significant privileges,” Bokuchava said. “These accomplishments were not thanks to the government, but to the Georgian people.”

She cited comments made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who, according to Bokuchava, had consistently stated - both publicly and in private - that granting candidate status to Georgia was a recognition of the will and efforts of the Georgian public.

“But today, we are witnessing how these achievements are being systematically dismantled by the government,” Bokuchava said, warning that losing visa-free travel would deprive many Georgian families of basic economic opportunities.

Her remarks were echoed by party colleague Irakli Pavlenishvili, who warned that the continued rule of the Georgian Dream party, which he referred to as “Ivanishvili’s party” - in reference to the party’s founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili - would result in Georgia’s “full isolation” from the Western world.

“This government’s presence in power means a complete detachment from the West,” Pavlenishvili claimed. “That poses a grave threat to Georgia’s statehood itself. The system must be dismantled as soon as possible to avoid further damage - not only to our European future and prosperity, but to the very foundation of our sovereignty.”