Georgian PM criticises European bureaucracy over Denmark protest dispersal

Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday said that his government wants to show the public “what is really happening in Europe and within European bodies”, arguing that the recent developments in Denmark revealed the true nature of European values.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Kobakhidze claimed that the handling of a peaceful gathering in Denmark and the reactions that followed demonstrated what he described as a “value-based degradation” within the European bureaucracy.

He further stressed that European officials avoided answering critical questions regarding the incident, specifically criticising the reactions of the European Union ambassador, the German ambassador, and the Danish authorities, accusing them of failing to properly condemn what he called the “brutal dispersal” of a peaceful protest.

“We want to show society what is truly happening in Europe, within European bodies, and what their real values are. The example of Denmark demonstrated this very well”, Kobakhidze said.

The Prime Minister compared the situation to events in Georgia in 2024, when several incidents involving misconduct by law enforcement officers took place during protests. He stated that the Georgian authorities reacted immediately by condemning those actions.

“In comparison, those were excesses, and the government had an immediate response. We immediately condemned the violations that society witnessed”, he said.

Kobakhidze argued that European and Danish officials have not shown a similar reaction regarding the Denmark incident.

“We witnessed the brutal dispersal of an absolutely peaceful gathering, and the EU ambassador, the German ambassador, and the Danish authorities do not even dare to provide an appropriate response, which would be condemning these actions and calling them by their proper name”, the prime minister stated.

He added that the situation reflects what he described as a broader crisis of values across Europe, calling the trend “tragic and regrettable”.