The Georgian government buried its citizens' European dream. On Thursday, November 28, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia was postponing negotiations on its application to join the European Union (EU) until the end of 2028. He presented this decision as a retaliatory measure against the adoption, a few hours earlier, of a non-binding resolution by the European Parliament, in which MEPs rejected the results of the October 26 parliamentary elections, deemed "neither free nor fair" and marred by "significant irregularities."

The election, seen as a choice between the EU and Russia, was officially won by the ruling Georgian Dream party with almost 54% of the vote, but the opposition and President Salome Zurabishvili denounced "stolen" elections and are refusing to recognize the results. The European resolution demands that a new election be held within a year under international supervision and that sanctions be imposed on senior officials, including Kobakhidze, who was confirmed in office by the new Georgian Parliament on Thursday.

The prime minister accused the EU Parliament and "certain European politicians" of "blackmail." "We have decided not to place the issue of EU membership on the agenda until the end of 2028," he said, adding that he rejected "any EU budget subsidy" until then. However, Kobakhidze promised to continue implementing the reforms demanded by Brussels, and assured that "by 2028, Georgia will be better prepared than any other candidate country to open accession negotiations with Brussels and become a member state in 2030."

Seen as a betrayal, the announcement of the suspension of talks on European integration sent shockwaves through this former Soviet republic in the Caucasus, where 80% of the population consider themselves to be pro-European. Spontaneous demonstrations took place in several major cities, which the law enforcement agencies attempted to disperse using water cannons and tear gas. Clashes broke out and barricades were erected. Forty-three people were arrested and 32 police officers were injured, according to the Interior Ministry.

In Tbilisi, Zourabichvili, whose role is essentially honorary, mingled with the crowd in a show of support and challenged the police: "Do you serve Russia or Georgia? Who did you swear an oath to?" Earlier, she denounced a "coup" aimed at diverting the country from Europe to Russia, called on the population to "resist" and organized an "emergency meeting" with foreign diplomats.

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