South Caucasus Republic: Georgia’s head of government confirms EU course

After the parliamentary election in Georgia, which was overshadowed by allegations of fraud, Prime Minister Iraqi Kobachidze is trying to dampen fears about a departure from the EU course. Georgia wants to fully integrate into the European Union by 2030, he said at a government meeting in Tbilisi. The Prime Minister was quoted in the Georgian media as saying that he expects a new beginning in the current difficult relationship with the EU next year.

Demonstration expected in Tbilisi

Kobachidze called Saturday’s election, with an alleged result of around 54 percent for the ruling Georgian Dream party, a vote of confidence. In contrast, the President of the country in the South Caucasus, Salome Zurabishvili, speaks of a complete falsification and suspects Russian influence. She has called for a demonstration this evening. The pro-European opposition does not recognize the result.

The former Soviet republic on Russia’s southern border is a candidate for EU membership. But Brussels has put the rapprochement on hold because of several repressive laws that the ruling Georgian Dream party pushed through this year. The national conservative party is dominated by the billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who became rich in Moscow, and is pursuing a course of compromise with Russia and cooperation with China.