TBILISI, Georgia (AP) 鈥� Georgia is suspending talks on its bid to join the European Union for four years, its prime minister said Thursday, in view of what he described as 鈥渂lackmail and manipulation鈥� from some of the bloc's politicians. His announcement outraged the opposition and triggered a new wave of protests.
The move by Irakli Kobakhidze came hours after he was reappointed to the job by members of the governing Georgian Dream party after its disputed victory in last month鈥檚 parliamentary election that has and led to .
The on the country鈥檚 aspirations to join the European Union. The opposition said the vote was rigged under the influence of Russia seeking to keep Georgia in its orbit.
European election observers said the balloting took place in a divisive atmosphere marked by instances of bribery, double voting and physical violence.
The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023 on condition that it meets the bloc's recommendations but put its accession on hold and cut financial support earlier this year after the passage of a 鈥渇oreign influence鈥� law widely seen as a blow to democratic freedoms.
Kobakhidze said Thursday that while the country will pursue its bid to join the EU, 鈥渋t will not put the issue of opening negotiations with the European Union on the agenda until the end of 2028.鈥�
鈥淎dditionally, we are rejecting any budgetary grants from the European Union until the end of 2028,鈥� he added.
Thousands of protesters poured into the streets following Kobakhidze's announcement, rallying outside the parliament building in Tbilisi and staging demonstrations in other cities.
Earlier in the day, the European Parliament adopted a resolution that condemned last month鈥檚 Georgian parliamentary vote as neither free nor fair, representing yet another manifestation of the continued democratic backsliding 鈥渇or which the ruling Georgian Dream party is fully responsible.鈥�
EU lawmakers urged a rerun of the parliamentary vote within a year under thorough international supervision and by an independent election administration. They also called on the EU to impose sanctions and limit formal contacts with the Georgian government.
The Georgian prime minister fired back, denouncing what he described as a 鈥渃ascade of insults鈥� from the EU politicians and declaring that 鈥渢he ill-wishers of our country have turned the European Parliament into a blunt weapon of blackmail against Georgia, which is a great disgrace for the European Union.鈥�
鈥淲e will continue on our path toward the European Union; however, we will not allow anyone to keep us in a constant state of blackmail and manipulation, which is utterly disrespectful to our country and society,鈥� Kobakhidze said. 鈥淲e must clearly show certain European politicians and bureaucrats, who are completely devoid of European values, that they must speak to Georgia with dignity, not through blackmail and insults.鈥�
Critics have accused Georgian Dream 鈥� established by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a shadowy billionaire who made his fortune in Russia 鈥� of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted toward Moscow. The party recently to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights.
Speaking in parliament earlier on Thursday, Kobakhidze described last month鈥檚 parliamentary vote as 鈥渁lso a referendum between immoral propaganda and traditional values, and our society chose traditional values.鈥�
The EU suspended Georgia鈥檚 membership application process indefinitely in June, after parliament passed a law requiring organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as 鈥減ursuing the interest of a foreign power,鈥� similar to a Russian law used to discredit organizations critical of the government.
President Salome Zourabichvili, whose six-year term expires next month, has rejected the official results and refused to recognize the parliament鈥檚 legitimacy. Zourabichvili, whose post is mostly ceremonial, met with EU ambassadors and opposition leaders after Kobakhidze's announcement.
In an address to the nation, Zourabichvili denounced what she described as a 鈥渃oup鈥� aimed at taking the country away from Europe and toward Russia. The president accused the governing party of waging a 鈥渨ar on our future, the future of our society, and the future of our country." "Because on this path, there is no Georgian statehood, no independence, and no future 鈥� except in Russia,鈥� she said.
Zourabichvili was elected by popular vote, but Georgia has approved constitutional changes that abolished the direct election of the president and replaced it with a vote by a 300-seat electoral college consisting of members of parliament, municipal councils and regional legislatures.
On Wednesday, the ruling party , a 53-year-old former national team and Premier League player, for the presidential post. He is all but certain to win the Dec. 14 vote by the electoral college controlled by the ruling party.
Sophiko Megrelidze, The Associated Press
