Georgian PM: ‘We and our children subjected to blackmail by European bureaucracy’

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has criticized the European Union (EU) for its decision not to grant Georgia candidate status in June 2022, Report informs.

Speaking to journalists, Kobakhidze highlighted that negotiations remained stalled for the following year and a half, while Moldova—despite its struggles with corruption—was granted candidate status.

The prime minister argued that if Georgia had received candidate status in June 2022, the process would have progressed naturally, avoiding disputes.

He claimed, however, that certain parties sought to exploit the status to pressure Georgia into war: “On November 28, 2024, the Georgian government announced that it would no longer prioritize the issue of opening negotiations.”

Kobakhidze further accused European bureaucracy of continuing to blackmail Georgia and its citizens in December 2023, calling the situation "shameful." He stated, "We and our children have been subjected to blackmail by European bureaucracy."

The prime minister also criticized the EU’s decision to grant candidate status to a country with weak institutions and significant corruption issues, while denying the same to Georgia, labeling it as deeply unjust.