TBILISI, October 30 – Brussels has written to Georgia urging tougher action against sanctions evasion, while the ruling party moved to outlaw three opposition groups. European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper confirmed the Commission has sent a formal letter to the Georgian government “about Georgia’s commitments to prevent circumvention of EU sanctions.” She said the EU … Read more
TBILISI, October 21 – Georgia’s ruling party accuses the European Union of using visa-free travel as a “blackmail” tactic, while Brussels warned that parts of Georgia’s population could lose visa privileges amid concerns over democracy and rule of law. At the meeting on October 20 in Luxembourg, EU foreign ministers indicated that new regulations coming … Read more
TBILISI, October 17 – Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze sharply criticized the European Commission on Friday, accusing its press office of showing “direct support” for what he described as an attempted coup and of remaining silent about the recent attempted storming of the presidential palace in Tbilisi. Speaking to reporters, Kobakhidze said the Commission should … Read more
TBILISI, October 15 – The Georgian government on Wednesday canceled a planned meeting between Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Elina Valtonen, Finland’s foreign minister and the current chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), after she briefly visited an anti-government protest outside parliament. In a statement, the government said Valtonen had … Read more
TBILISI, October 13 – The European Union’s new border control system came into effect on October 12, replacing traditional passport stamps with biometric screening for travelers entering or leaving the bloc. The system, officially called the Entry/Exit System (EES), applies to citizens of all non-EU countries. From now on, border guards at airports and land … Read more
TBILISI, October 13 – A pro-government civic group in Georgia has called for a referendum to decide whether the country should continue seeking membership in the European Union. The group, United Neutral Georgia, argues that a newly adopted EU strategy on LGBT rights crosses a “red line” for Georgia’s relations with Brussels. The European Commission … Read more
TBILISI, October 6 – Georgia’s government rejected criticism from the European Union Sunday, following the country’s local elections, and violent clashes in Tbilisi branded a “peaceful revolution” by parts of the opposition. In a joint statement, EU foreign policy chief and European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said the elections … Read more
TBILISI, October 3 – Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze dismissed the resolution passed by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), calling it “another attack on the Georgian people.” Speaking one day after the PACE vote, Kobakhidze said the resolution revealed the “serious problems” in Europe’s bureaucracy and that it includes passages that … Read more
TBILISI, October 3 – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has passed a strongly worded resolution questioning the state of democracy and rule of law in Georgia. Out of 77 delegates, 68 voted in favor, 7 against, and 2 abstained. The resolution, titled “Democracy and Rule of Law in Georgia,” warns that … Read more
TBILISI, October 2 – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called Georgia “the most successful European country” ahead of the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Copenhagen today. Speaking before the meeting, Orbán praised Georgia’s economic performance and said he would meet Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze during the summit. The Georgian PM is scheduled to … Read more