Paweł Herczyński: Do not lose hope! The future of Georgia lies in the hands of the Georgian people; we respect this. This is the most striking difference between the European Union and the Soviet Union - listen to your national anthem; it is hard not to be moved to tears when you hear it - freedom!

Do not lose hope! The future of Georgia lies in the hands of the Georgian people, and no one else’s. As the European Union, we fully respect this. There are many differences, but I believe this is the most striking distinction between us—the European Union—and the Soviet Union,” Paweł Herczyński, the EU Ambassador to Georgia, stated following the release of the 2026 EU Enlargement Report.

According to him, the Georgian people are a freedom-loving nation, and for this reason, they do not lose hope: “I hope that good will prevail.” "If you ask me what my message is, I believe it has two parts. Unfortunately, there is a bad message, and there is also a good message. The bad message is that, as a result of the Georgian government’s undemocratic actions, legislation, and anti-European rhetoric, Georgia’s accession process has been halted—at a time when other countries are moving forward. That is the bad message. But the good message is that Georgia remains a candidate country, that the door remains open to you, and that when the day comes—whether under this government or any future administration—that there is a shift in attitude and approach, and a return to the path of EU enlargement, we will always be ready!

Georgia’s future lies in the hands of the Georgian people—and no one else’s. As the European Union, we fully respect this. There are many differences, but I believe this is the most striking distinction between us—the European Union—and the Soviet Union. You must decide where you wish to be. I hope that the good will prevail. You are marking 1,700 years of Christianity. I know I am biased—I love Georgia very much—but listen to your anthem—when you listen to it, it’s hard to hold back tears. Freedom! Georgians are a freedom-loving people. Therefore, regardless of the situation, I personally do not lose hope; however, the future of the country is ultimately for the Georgians to decide," stated Herczyński.