Georgia suspends EU talks until 2028, citing “blackmail” by Brussels after EU criticism of election irregularities sparks calls for sanctions and new polls.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on Thursday that Georgia will suspend its European Union accession talks until 2028, accusing Brussels and the European Parliament of “blackmail” following criticism of the country’s October 26 parliamentary elections.
The announcement came just hours after the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution rejecting Georgia’s election results, citing “significant irregularities.” The resolution called for new elections under international supervision within a year and recommended sanctions against high-ranking Georgian officials, including Kobakhidze.
In a combative response, Kobakhidze dismissed the resolution as undue interference. “We have decided not to bring up the issue of joining the European Union on the agenda until the end of 2028,” he said. Despite this suspension, he pledged to continue domestic reforms, claiming Georgia would be “more prepared than any other candidate country” for EU membership by 2030.
Strained Relations with Brussels
Georgia’s goal of EU membership is enshrined in its constitution, but relations with Brussels have soured in recent months. Although Georgia gained EU candidate status in December 2023, the European Union has since expressed concerns over a series of laws passed by the ruling Georgian Dream party. These include restrictions on “foreign agents” and LGBTQ rights, which critics argue are authoritarian and inspired by Russian policies.
The EU previously stated that Georgia’s application is effectively frozen, citing these developments as obstacles to membership.
Election Disputes and Allegations of Fraud
The October 26 parliamentary elections, which gave Georgian Dream nearly 54% of the vote, have been widely condemned both domestically and internationally. The European Parliament resolution highlighted “numerous and serious” violations, including voter intimidation, vote manipulation, and fraud. Opposition parties have rejected the results and initiated a boycott of parliamentary sessions, calling the elections a sham.
Pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili has also condemned the election, deeming it “unconstitutional” and urging the Constitutional Court to annul the results. Meanwhile, a coalition of Georgian election monitors has claimed evidence of a large-scale electoral fraud scheme favoring Georgian Dream.
Georgian Dream has denied all allegations, insisting the elections were legitimate.
Calls for Sanctions and a New Election
European lawmakers in Strasbourg urged the EU to impose sanctions on key Georgian Dream officials, including Kobakhidze, Tbilisi Mayor and former footballer Kakha Kaladze, and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. The resolution also called for an international investigation into alleged electoral misconduct.
The EU’s demands for new elections and accountability have added to mounting pressure on the Georgian government, which has faced criticism for policies seen as undermining democratic norms.
What Lies Ahead
Kobakhidze insists that Georgia remains committed to its European future despite suspending accession talks. However, the escalating dispute with Brussels, coupled with domestic unrest and opposition boycotts, places Georgia at a crossroads.
As international scrutiny intensifies, the question remains whether Georgia can reconcile its internal political challenges and strained relations with the EU to maintain its European trajectory—or if its democratic backsliding will lead to greater isolation.
Protests against the election results and government policies continue to grow, drawing larger crowds across Georgia.
The European Commission has added Russia to its list of “high-risk” countries, citing significant shortcomings in the nation’s anti-money launde...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that phase two of his Gaza plan is “going to happen pretty soon,” but did not provide a specific tim...
The European Commission has proposed a $105B support package for Ukraine for 2026–2027, combining joint EU borrowing with proceeds from frozen Russi...
Vilnius Airport in Lithuania suspended operations on Wednesday after suspected balloons were spotted in its airspace, marking the latest in a series o...
The Donbas region, made up of Donetsk and Luhansk, has been at the center of the Russia–Ukraine conflict since 2014. Today, it remains a critical ba...
The European Commission’s decision to grant the Black Sea Submarine Cable project the status of a Project of Mutual Interest is more than a technical upgrade—it is a geopolitical message.
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has begun an official visit to Budapest, strengthening Georgia’s diplomatic outreach and expanding cooperation on European urban development.
The Georgian Dream party says it has taken legal action against British Broadcaster BBC following an accusation of defamation in article published about protests in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital.
Two major protest marches are set to take place in the capital this evening, marking one year since the political controversy surrounding Georgia’s stalled EU membership negotiations.
A four-part docuseries executive produced by Curtis '50 cent' Jackson and directed by Alexandria Stapleton on Netflix is at the centre of controversy online.
Chinese scientists have unveiled a new gene-editing therapy that they say could lead to a functional cure for HIV, making it one of the most promising developments in decades of global research.
As the year comes to an end, a new initiative bringing civil society actors and regional analysts from Armenia and Azerbaijan together is steadily gaining ground.
Uzbekistan has reopened its border with Afghanistan for the first time since 2021, the country’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced on Tuesday.
Belgian police have raided the EU’s diplomatic service and the College of Europe as part of a corruption probe into an EU-funded training academy for diplomats, detaining three suspects and searching multiple premises, according to Politico.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned that recent attacks on Russia-linked tankers in the Black Sea endanger regional safety and commerce, highlighting the expanding reach of the war in Ukraine.
On December 2-3, the second meeting of the Heads of Mapping Institutions of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held in Baku.
The European Commission’s decision to grant the Black Sea Submarine Cable project the status of a Project of Mutual Interest is more than a technical upgrade—it is a geopolitical message.
Uzbekistan has launched an urgent environmental reform package after recent air-quality data revealed serious pollution problems, particularly in Tashkent
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Islamic Republic has closed its security gaps after Israel and U.S. repeatedly bombed the country in June.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment