Georgian PM accuses “certain bureaucrats” of pressuring Georgia over visa liberalisation

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday said that “certain bureaucrats and informal decision-makers behind them” were trying to pressure Georgian society because the Georgian people did not return the “collective United National Movement” to power.

Speaking on Adjara Public Broadcaster in response to questions about statements regarding the possible suspension of Georgia’s visa-free travel with the EU, Kobakhidze said such an approach was “unfair” and ineffective.

“Some specific bureaucrats, or rather the informal rulers behind them, cannot forgive the Georgian people for not bringing the ‘collective UNM’ back to power. Because of this, they constantly try to keep our society under pressure, which is simply an unfair approach and does not work”, Kobakhidze said.

According to him, those who believe that such political pressure can force Georgia to change its political course or return the former ruling party to power are mistaken.

“Even though they have made many non-pragmatic decisions in the past, I do not think they will take such an irrational step now - but we will see. They constantly try to blackmail the Georgian citizens. If anyone thinks they can achieve anything with this policy and reinstall the ‘collective UNM’ in power, that will not happen. I believe these officials will ultimately make a more pragmatic decision”, the Prime Minister concluded.