In an exclusive interview with "Interpressnews", the chairman of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, David McAllister, evaluates the situation in Georgia. McAllister once again calls on the Georgian authorities to reconsider the decision to suspend negotiations with the European Union until the end of 2028 and to take into account the calls of the participants of the ongoing protests in the country.
The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament also highlights that if Georgian Dream ignores the calls for new elections and the release of detainees, strict measures from the European Union and probably from the United States of America will be expected.
"Georgian Dream" decided to suspend relations with the European Union until the end of 2028, and the reason for this, as they say, is "the unfair policy and attitude of the European Union towards Georgia.”. Moreover, according to the assessment of the ruling party, the EU was using the issue of accession to "blackmail" the government. What are your assessments about these issues?
In December 2023, the European Council decided to grant the status of candidate country to Georgia, on the understanding that relevant steps will be taken in nine areas identified by the Commission. This historic decision was an enormous opportunity for Georgia to move to the next stage in its path towards the European Union. However, the recent developments as well as the questionable results of the last election have raised serious concerns regarding the direction of the country and the intentions of the current regime. In particular, the adoption of the so-called "Transparency of Foreign Influence Law" is a step in the completely wrong direction. The European Union has very clear set standards for the progression of the accession process. The Copenhagen criteria need to be fulfilled completely by the time a country becomes an EU member state. Beforehand, progress has to be evident with regard to several crucial areas, including democracy, the fight against corruption and the rule of law. Unfortunately, Georgian Dream party did not use this opportunity. European Union acted consequently.
All of this has nothing to do with "blackmail". The "Georgian Dream's" decision to suspend relations with the EU is a regrettable step, but it is unfortunately in line with what was to be expected from this regime's policies. The European Union will continue to urge the Georgian authorities to reverse these developments and ensure full respect for fundamental freedoms, the protection of human rights, and the guarantee of an open society with independent media.
Since that decision, protests have been taking place for more than 45 days in different cities of Georgia. People from different backgrounds, ages, and profession participate in the demonstrations every day. What is the importance of the voice of the people, and what would you say to the citizens of the country?
The EU continues to stand with the people of Georgia. We recognize that the overwhelming majority of them wants a European and Euro-Atlantic future for their country. The parliamentary elections in October were far from free and fair. They were deeply flawed. This rendered the new "Parliament" and the "President" elected by it devoid of any democratic legitimacy. The resilience and courage of the Georgian people are truly impressive.
There is no doubt that the elections were marred by procedural flaws, including compromised voting secrecy, fraudulent identification practices, voter and local election committee intimidation, misuse of administrative resources, and deeply polarized government rhetoric in the run-up to the elections. This was underlined by the strong negative assessment of local and international observation missions, including OSCE ODIHR. Nevertheless, Georgian Dream claimed its fourth consecutive victory.
The undemocratic legislation passed by the Georgian regime and its increasingly hostile rhetoric highlight the vast disconnect between the authorities and civil society. Support for EU membership among Georgian citizens remains consistently above 80%. Itis crucial that we continue to actively support the pro-European aspirations of the Georgian people. The images that continue to emerge from Tbilisi send a clear message: Georgians do not want to fall under Russian influence. The people of Georgia have demonstrated their desire for a democratic and European future.
What plan does the European Union have for Georgia and its ruling party. What steps is Europe ready for in order for the ruling party of Georgia to hear the voice of the people? Do you think that the Commission’s proposal regarding the suspension of visa-free travel for diplomats and officials from Georgia will be an effective measure?
The resolution adopted by the European Parliament on November 28 2024 provides a clear roadmap: the ball is in the court of the Georgian regime. A course correction by "Georgian Dream" that involves distancing itself from Moscow and embracing an EU-compatible agenda seems unlikely. Until the authorities make a clear shift in this direction, political relations with the ruling party must be downgraded. Georgia's EU accession process has been practically frozen since the so-called "transparency law" was adopted. The €121 million indirect financial aid earmarked for Georgia have been suspended. Additionally, the EU Foreign Affairs Council has frozen support for Georgia from the European Peace Facility -amounting to €30 million in 2024. In line with this action taken by the European Union, all financial support and strategic partnerships with the Georgian Dream regime must be suspended to prevent further democratic backsliding. The frozen €120 million, initially intended as direct EU support for the Georgian government, must instead be redirected to benefit civil society -particularly the non-governmental sector and independent media. The goal must be to protect the remaining spaces of freedom from which genuine resistance to authoritarian practices can emerge. Ultimately, democratic change needs to come from the people themselves. The European Parliament has been clear that we want leading individuals in Georgia to be sanctioned because of their malignant activities.
We call on the Georgian authorities for the elections and organize them in a free and fair manner. We call for all political prisoners to be released. We call on the Georgian authorities to stop putting people into prison who are innocent.
The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States will take place on Monday, January 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. As the whole world, Georgia is waiting for the Trump presidency with a great interest as well. What kind of relations do you think will be expected between Georgian Dream and the new Trump administration, because according to the ruling party, after Trump's inauguration, relations between the two countries may begin to reset and improve?
Nobody knows exactly what the US policy towards Georgia will be. The current US administration has imposed sanctions on the leader of the "Georgian Dream", Bidzina Ivanishvili. Right now, it is completely unclear how the new Trump administration will approach the Georgian regime. Mr. Trump's first presidency from 2017 to 2021 was characterized by unpredictability, numerous personnel changes and a discrepancy between what the president said and what his administration did. I am very convinced that we will be able to convince the US administration, that is not only in the vital interests of the Europeans, but also the Americans, that we have a free democratic Georgia, which can take an own sovereign decision, which from policy orientation, it wants to follow.
The ruling party of Georgia uses the "Global War Party" and "Deep State" in their daily message boxes as influential powers who rule the world from shadow, and they intend to involve Georgia in a war. What do you think is the main purpose of the government of Georgia related to this issue?
The Georgia Dream Party is spreading well-known conspiracy theories which in the end only feed the narrative of Mr. Putin as his political allies in the Kremlin. That's simply fake news.
These conspiracies serve the purpose of cementing Russian influence in Georgia by spreading misinformation The growing Russian influence in Georgia is a cause for significant concern. Not only has the ruling party used brutal images of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine to manipulate opinions and spread disinformation, but there is also a noticeable increase in economic ties with Russia. Under the leadership of the "Georgian Dream," relations between Georgia and Russia have been nearly normalized, despite Russia's occupation of 20% of Georgia's internationally recognized territory. As a candidate for EU membership, Georgia should be doing the exact opposite. The European Parliament has repeatedly called on the Georgian government to align its foreign policy and strategy toward Russia with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. Georgia should continue its policy of non-recognition of the occupied Ukrainian territories and honor its commitment to effectively implement measures preventing the circumvention of European sanctions. Without these steps, progress in the EU accession process will not be possible.
On the 14th of December, Mikheil Kavelashvili was chosen as president of Georgia by a 300-seat electoral college. He was the only candidate on the ballot. Do you consider him a legitimate president of Georgia?
The European Parliament has been very clear. We do not recognize the government, and we do not recognize the President.
Former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili declared herself head of state even though her term had expired in December, and announced that she would continue to perform "presidential functions" from her new office in Tbilisi. She described the situation in Georgia as a "deep crisis" and asserted that the solution lies in holding new parliamentary elections. Do you think she has enough power to lead Georgia out of this crisis?
I had the honor of meeting President Zourabichvili a couple of years ago in Tbilisi. What an impressive personality. President Salome Zourabichvili has become the face of democratic resistance in Georgia on 18 December 2024, she addressed the European Parliament with a powerful speech, commenting on the protest movement that has gripped Georgia since the controversial parliamentary elections in October. She remarked: "In some ways, we feel like we are back in 1921, as scenes are repeating themselves." That is what explains the courage and determination with which the Georgian people are reacting today. They see what is happening as a deposition of their freedom, their future and in some ways their independence".
The Georgian Dream aims to fuel this polarization by divisive rhetoric portraying itself as the defender of peace and traditional values, while framing their opponents as criminals and enemies of the state acting on behalf of the so-called global war party." This group is alleged to be aiming to open a second front in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Let's make no mistake: Salome Zourabichvili continues to be the legitimate President of Georgia. She is the sole legitimate representative of Georgia in international relations, until new elections in an improved electoral environment, managed by an independent and impartial election administration can ensure a genuinely fair and transparent election process.
The United States has sanctioned Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia’s former prime minister and founder of the governing Georgian Dream Party, amid protests against a pause in European Union accession efforts. In a statement on 27 December, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Ivanishvili and his party had undermined democratic institutions and “derailed Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future” to the benefit of Russia. How realistic do you see that the European Union personally comes to the point of sanctioning Bidzina Ivanishvili?
The European Parliament has called on sanctions to be imposed on people responsible for this democratic backsliding and for the disrespect of the world of Georgian people. In its resolution from 28 November, the European Parliament condemned the 26 October parliamentary elections in Georgia for being neither free nor fair. They represent yet another manifestation of the continued democratic backsliding of the country for which the ruling Georgian Dream party is fully responsible. In this resolution, parliament rejected any recognition of the Georgian parliamentary elections. We were clear that the elections should be re-run within a year under thorough international supervision and by an independent election administration.
In this resolution, Parliament also called to impose personal sanctions on the officials and political leaders in Georgia who are responsible for democratic backsliding, violations of electoral laws and standards, and the misuse of state institutions. This includes Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party Kakha Kaladze, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili -and yes, indeed, former Prime Minister and oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. We called on the EU to freeze all of Mr. Ivanishvili's assets within the EU for his role in the deterioration of the political process in Georgia and for acting against the country's constitutionally declared interests, including efforts to restore Russia's sphere of influence over the country.
The European Parliament also called on the EU to severely restrict formal EU-level contacts with the Georgian government and parliament.
One of the leaders of Georgian opposition, Giorgi Gakharia was attacked recently. Also, in the recent days some political activists and representative of media were arrested these days. There is a common idea, that they are the victims of repressions. Do you think that the government is responsible on those attacks?
Georgia is facing democratic transition. We call on the authorities – violence must stop. Politically motivated arrest must stop, people must not be imprisoned just because they are exercising their democratic rights. Political prisoners must be released. Violence should never be a tool in a democratic country. I strongly condemn any attack on journalists, activists and political representatives and call Georgian authorities to respect the freedom of expression.
Beka Beriashvili
Interpressnews