Georgia Abandons EU Path as Democratic Crisis Deepens

Brussels, November 29, 2024 - Georgia has effectively abandoned its European Union membership aspirations after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the government would pause accession negotiations, triggering widespread protests and international condemnation in a country where polls show overwhelming pro-European sentiment.

The decision represents a dramatic reversal for a nation that applied for EU membership in March 2022 and received candidate status in December 2023. Instead of capitalizing on this historic opportunity, European Parliament officials say Georgia has experienced "continuous democratic backsliding" under the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The announcement came just days after disputed parliamentary elections on October 26, which international observers, including a European Parliament delegation, said were marred by widespread irregularities. The OSCE's International Election Observation Mission reported incidents of violence, vote buying, double-voting, intimidation of voters, and removal of media and observers.

"According to the preliminary findings and conclusions of OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights International Election Observation Mission, these elections were marred by reports of pressure on voters, uneven playing field, polarized media environment and political instrumentalization," European officials stated.

The government's EU decision has sparked massive protests across Georgia, with thousands taking to the streets nightly to demonstrate against what they see as a betrayal of their European aspirations. European Parliament officials have condemned the use of violence against peaceful protesters and called on authorities to respect the fundamental right to peaceful assembly.

The crisis has been building since Georgia adopted a controversial "Foreign Agents" law earlier this year, which effectively halted the EU accession process. The law, similar to Russian legislation, requires organizations receiving foreign funding to register as "foreign agents," leading to widespread criticism from civil society and international partners.

European officials have maintained their "unwavering support for the Georgian people's legitimate European aspirations" while refusing to recognize the legitimacy of the current government. They've called for a re-run of the elections under improved conditions with international observation and continued to support pro-democratic movements working to return Georgia to its European path.

The situation represents one of the most serious democratic crises in Georgia since the 2003 Rose Revolution and threatens to fundamentally alter the country's geopolitical orientation away from Europe and potentially toward Russia.