Georgia Postpones EU Membership Bid Until 2028

Posted by: Eninu William in World news November 29, 2024

Georgia has postponed its bid to join the EU after the European Parliament voted to reject the results of the country’s recent election. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused the bloc of “blackmail”. He said his government would drop its pursuit of membership “until the end of 2028”.

It came hours after European legislators called for last month’s parliamentary elections in Georgia to be re-run. They cited “significant irregularities”. Kobakhidze’s announcement sparked protests in cities across Georgia.

Thousands gathered outside the parliament building in the capital Tbilisi, blocking traffic and waving EU flags.

On Thursday, the European Parliament backed a resolution describing the election as the latest stage in Georgia’s “worsening democratic crisis”. They are saying that the ruling party was “fully responsible”. It expressed particular concern about reports of vote buying and manipulation, voter intimidation, and harassment of observers.

Following the resolution, Kobakhidze said his government had “decided not to bring up the issue of joining the European Union on the agenda until the end of 2028”.

A tense stand-off between protesters and riot police continued through the night in Tbilisi on Thursday. Demonstrators set up barricades in the streets, while police used pepper spray and water cannon on the crowds.

“Georgian Dream didn’t win the elections. It staged a coup,” said 20-year-old Shota Sabashvili.

“There is no legitimate parliament or government in Georgia. We will not let this self-proclaimed prime minister destroy our European future.”

Ana, a student, said the Georgian Dream was “going against Georgian people’s will and want to drag us back to USSR”

“That will never happen because Georgian people will never let this happen,” she told the Associated Press.

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