Georgian PM credits peace and economic growth to Ivanishvili-led political team

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday said the ruling Georgian Dream party’s political team, led by Bidzina Ivanishvili, was the only government since Georgia regained independence that had avoided war.

Kobakhidze noted that the Georgian Dream government had demonstrated its ability to safeguard peace despite significant challenges and what he described as direct external pressure.

“We are the only government since the 1990s, following the restoration of independence, under which there has been no war, and achieving this required tremendous effort”, he said.

Kobakhidze argued that preserving peace had been particularly challenging since 2022, adding that the government had nevertheless succeeded in protecting the country’s stability.

“I want to tell you what the results of our political team under the leadership of Bidzina Ivanishvili are. We are the only government since the 1990s, after the restoration of independence, under which there has been no war, and this required enormous effort, especially after 2022. Everyone saw that we had the capacity to firmly protect peace in our country despite major challenges and direct pressure”, he continued.

The Prime Minister also highlighted what he described as sustained economic progress during his government’s tenure.

“In 2020, our economy was worth $16 billion. Today, it exceeds $38 billion. Without peace, this would not have been possible”, Kobakhidze said.

He stressed that these achievements were the result of the government’s policies.

Addressing the policy of non-recognition regarding Georgia’s occupied territories, Kobakhidze said the number of countries recognising the so-called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia had decreased by one during the period.

He also contrasted the current situation with conditions before 2012, claiming the country had previously faced serious human rights challenges.

“In addition to the policy of non-recognition and the defence of our principled positions, there is now one fewer country that recognises the so-called independence of Abkhazia and the so-called South Ossetia. Before 2012, there was an extremely difficult situation in terms of human rights, including business racketeering and the torture of people both inside and outside prisons. That is no longer the case”, he concluded.