Georgian PM laments EU bureaucracy's disregard for rule of law

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Saturday expressed disappointment in the European bureaucracy, accusing it of abandoning core principles like justice and the rule of law in response to Brussels’ reaction to the detention of the opposition leader Nika Melia.

In his remarks, Kobakhidze referenced past instances where he believed European and American bureaucracies opposed Georgia’s efforts to enforce the law, pointing to a broader crisis within European institutions.

“It is unfortunate that European bureaucracy has completely abandoned principles such as justice, the rule of law, and a law-based state. You remember the statements from that time. Later, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg confirmed that the state’s actions were entirely legal and just from start to finish, yet no one has apologised to this day. Therefore, we are not surprised by the statements, or similar statements, being made today. This reflects a very serious crisis within European bureaucracy - a political, democratic, and legal crisis”, Kobakhidze said.

The Prime Minister expressed hope that diminishing external influences, particularly from the deep state, would allow the European Union to realign with its principles.

“I have great hope that the influence of the deep state on European bureaucracy will weaken, without which overcoming this crisis is simply unimaginable. I hope that European bureaucracy will ultimately manage to overcome the crisis. This is important for the European Union to develop a rules-based system”, he concluded.