Georgian PM: excessive EU criticism started after Georgia refused to open “second front”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday accused informal forces of leveraging European bureaucracy to act against Georgia’s national interests, claiming that criticism escalated after Georgia declined to open a “second front”.

In his remarks, Kobakhidze noted that European officials, including the EU Ambassador, directly intervened in Georgia’s electoral processes, urging voters to support the domestic opposition.

“The EU Ambassador [Paweł Herczyński] made direct statements at that time, and I can remind you of many other examples. This is direct interference in our democratic system and in Georgia’s domestic affairs. It had only one goal - it was part of a campaign. This campaign essentially began in 2022, after we refused to open a second front”, he said.

The Prime Minister added that the EU’s selective engagement with countries demonstrated double standards and inconsistency in its approach towards Georgia.

“Informal forces directly ensured the involvement of European bureaucracy in actions against Georgia’s national interests. This is the real reason why European bureaucracy still acts with double standards. What other explanation is there? You are supposed to invite 8 countries, but you invite 7 and not Georgia - there is no explanation for this. Let me repeat: according to them, out of these 8 countries, Georgia was the most anti-Western and the least democratic. This approach is absolutely laughable”, Kobakhidze concluded.