Georgia’s EU negotiations will pause for four years, according to Prime Minister Kobakhidze

Citing political “blackmail,” Georgia has put a four-year halt on its EU membership drive.

Citing “blackmail and manipulation” from some EU MPs, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Thursday that Georgia would halt its attempts to join the EU for four years. The opposition is furious over this decision, which has prompted further demonstrations.

Kobakhidze’s declaration was made soon after members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, which won a disputed parliamentary election last month, reappointed him. A boycott by the opposition, who blame Russian interference, and accusations of vote-rigging have tainted the election, which is viewed as a referendum on Georgia’s EU ambitions.

The election was held in a contentious atmosphere, with incidents of bribery, multiple voting, and physical violence, according to European election monitors. In December 2023, Georgia was given candidate status by the EU, subject to fulfilling the bloc’s proposals. However, after Georgia approved a “foreign influence” law that was seen as eroding democratic freedoms, the EU suspended entry and cut financial support.

Although Georgia is still committed to joining the EU, Kobakhidze said that talks won’t begin until the end of 2028. Additionally, he said that until then, EU financial grants would not be accepted.
Following the news, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Tbilisi and other towns, especially outside the parliament building. Earlier, the European Parliament blamed the ruling Georgian Dream party for the democratic slide and denounced the last Georgian parliamentary poll as neither free nor fair.

Within a year, EU legislators demanded that the parliamentary elections be held again with independent election management and extensive foreign oversight. Additionally, they recommended restricting official interactions with the Georgian government and enforcing sanctions.

Kobakhidze responded by accusing EU MPs of a “cascade of insults” and of blackmailing Georgia through the European Parliament. He maintained that while Georgia will keep moving toward the EU, it would not put up with deceit or manipulation.

Kobakhidze presented the parliamentary vote as a decision between “traditional values” and “immoral propaganda” in his speech, asserting that Georgian society opted for the latter.

Following the enactment of a legislation mandating groups that get more than 20% of their income from outside sources to register as foreign agents—a measure similar to one used in Russia to discredit government critics—the EU permanently stopped Georgia’s membership application process in June.

Salome Zourabichvili, whose presidency expires next month, has denied the legitimacy of the parliament and rejected the election results. Following Kobakhidze’s statement, Zourabichvili met with opposition leaders and EU diplomats, denouncing the move as a coup intended to turn the nation away from Europe and toward Russia. She maintained that this course would only result in Russian domination and endanger Georgia’s freedom and sovereignty.