Georgia stops its application for membership in the European Union, the population denounces a betrayal

The Georgian government is burying the European dream of its population. The Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced on Thursday, November 28, that Georgia was postponing negotiations on its application for membership in the European Union (EU) until the end of 2028. He presented this decision as a measure of retaliation against the adoption, a few hours earlier, of a non-binding resolution of the European Parliament, in which the deputies rejected the results of the legislative elections of October 26, judged “neither free nor fair” and tainted with“significant irregularities”.

The vote, seen as a choice between the EU and Russia, was officially won by the ruling Georgian Dream party with almost 54% of the vote, but the opposition and the president, Salome Zourabichvili, denounce elections “volleys” and refuse to recognize the results. The European resolution demands that a new vote be organized within a year under international supervision and that sanctions be taken against senior officials, including Mr. Kobakhidze, which the new Georgian Parliament also confirmed on Thursday at his post.

Spontaneous demonstrations

The Prime Minister accused the EU Parliament and “certain European politicians” of ” blackmail “. “We have decided not to put the question of EU membership on the agenda before the end of 2028”he declared, specifying that he rejected “any EU budgetary subsidy” until then. Mr. Kobakhidze, however, promised to continue implementing the reforms demanded by Brussels, and assured that “By 2028, Georgia will be better prepared than any other candidate country to open accession negotiations with Brussels and become a member state in 2030”.

Considered a betrayal, the announcement of the suspension of discussions on European integration has caused shock in this former Soviet republic of the Caucasus, where 80% of the population claims to be pro-European. Spontaneous demonstrations took place in several large cities, which the police tried to disperse with water cannons and tear gas. Clashes broke out and barricades were set up. In Kutaisi, in the west of the country, several people were arrested by the police.

In Tbilisi, Salomé Zourabichvili, whose role is essentially honorary, mingled with the crowd as a sign of support and addressed the police: “Are you serving Russia or Georgia?” Who did you swear to? » Earlier, she denounced a “coup d’état” aimed at diverting the country from Europe towards Russia, called on the population to ” resist “ and organized a “emergency meeting” with foreign diplomats.

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