Georgia is a democratic country, with media pluralism and political pluralism, and since 2012, it has made fundamental progress in democracy and human rights, according to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. In an interview with an Azerbaijani television channel, Kobakhidze discussed recent political developments and external interference in Georgia’s sovereignty.
The Prime Minister stated that for several years, there has been active foreign involvement in Georgia’s electoral processes, undermining the country’s sovereignty. He emphasized that despite these challenges, Georgia has made substantial strides in democratic reforms since 2012.
“Georgia is a democratic country. We have media and political pluralism. In every regard, our country has made fundamental progress in terms of democracy and human rights since 2012. However, some forces liked the previous government, which had severe problems, and they somehow dislike the current government, despite the progress our country has made over the years,” Kobakhidze said.
He went on to assert that certain forces sought to provoke a war in Georgia, intending for the country to become a second front against Russia. The Prime Minister emphasized that Georgia’s national interests must be protected and that the government had no intention of taking such a step.
“These forces wanted Georgia to become a second front against Russia. We must defend our national interests and not take such a step. It seems that these forces now want to punish us for this, but in reality, their resources are very limited. Unfortunately, these forces have a significant influence on both the European Union and the current U.S. administration. We hope that this will change significantly from next year, especially after Donald Trump becomes the U.S. President. We believe that the approach will change, and we have great hope that this shift in approach will also affect the European Union. Therefore, we remain optimistic,” Kobakhidze noted.
He also expressed hope that the war in Ukraine would end next year, leading to a calmer regional environment and easing the pressure on Georgia.
“With the end of the war in Ukraine, we believe the region will significantly calm down, and the pressure on our country will be substantially relieved,” Kobakhidze concluded.
