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Rose resolution: EU to increase pressure on Georgia due to strengthening of its ties with Russia
The European Union intends to increase pressure on Georgia as its ties with Russia strengthen, the European Parliament told Izvestia. In addition, they may again raise the issue of depriving the republic of the status of a candidate for EU membership, which was obtained in 2023. Earlier, the European Commission issued a report in which it once again condemned Tbilisi for "departing" from democratic norms and "undermining" the rule of law. Brussels also admitted that discussions on the complete abolition of the visa-free regime for Georgian citizens could begin as early as 2027. In Tbilisi, they emphasize that the EU is forcing the country to join the anti-Russian sanctions. However, Georgia is not ready for European integration at the cost of severing relations with Russia.
EU increases pressure on Georgia
Relations between the European Union and Georgia have escalated again. This week, the European Commission presented a report on EU enlargement and the internal situation in the country. According to Brussels, the authorities continue to "undermine" democratic principles, the rule of law, fundamental human rights and civil space, while contributing to the further "seizure of the state."
Opposition protest action in Tbilisi
Tbilisi reacted to the EU's claims immediately. On November 5, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called the EU report unfounded and accused Brussels of sponsoring unrest in Georgia in 2023-2024. The country's authorities perceived this document as an attempt to interfere in internal affairs, and Kobakhidze called the EU Ambassador Pavel Gerchinsky a tragic person.
Brussels still cannot forgive Georgia for refusing to join the sanctions against Russia, member of the European Parliament delegation for relations with the South Caucasus Thierry Mariani told Izvestia. The politician admitted that the European Parliament may again raise the issue of depriving the country of the candidate status for EU membership, which it received in 2023.
— Back in 2024, some members of the European Parliament called for the suspension of [the status], and I would not be surprised if this demand is made again. The European Parliament periodically adopts documents against the Government of Georgia. In June, 436 deputies voted for such a document," he said.
Relations between the EU and Georgia deteriorated sharply after Tbilisi began to change legislation to strengthen sovereignty and protect against external interference. We are talking about the law on foreign agents, which obliges organizations with foreign funding of more than 20% to register in a special register, and the law on the protection of family values, directed against LGBT propaganda (the movement is recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation).
In addition, Brussels is unhappy with the authorities' plans to ban pro-Western opposition parties. "We are abolishing foreign agents in Georgian politics," Kobakhidze said. By the way, on November 5, the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation declared the Georgian pro-European Droa! party undesirable in our country. Her goals include "exposing" the ties of local authorities with Russia, "dismantling the one-party system" in Georgia, and accelerating European integration.
Over the past year, the EU has noticeably increased political pressure on Tbilisi. Thus, the European Parliament has adopted at least three anti-Georgian resolutions. Last month, he approved a document demanding the introduction of European sanctions against the country's leadership, and the deputies called the republic's government itself "self-proclaimed." In March, the European Commission suspended the visa-free regime for holders of Georgian diplomatic and official passports. At the same time, Brussels seems ready to go further and put pressure not only on the elites, but also on ordinary citizens. The other day, the head of European diplomacy, Kaya Kallas, made it clear that in early 2027, the European Union may discuss the complete abolition of the visa-free regime for Georgia.
Brussels emphasizes that the process of Georgia's accession to the European Union has actually been stopped, and the country retains its candidate status only formally. MEP Thierry Mariani believes that the issue of further European integration of Tbilisi may be raised on November 12 at the summit of the European Political Community in Ireland, as well as at the December meeting of EU leaders. According to him, the European Union has already contributed to the defeat of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party led by ex-President Aleksandar Vucic in the October 25 parliamentary elections, and now Brussels will turn its attention to Georgia.
Prospects of relations between Georgia and Russia
In these circumstances, Georgia is striving to maintain contacts with Russia. The Chairman of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, earlier reiterated that the European Union and the EU Ambassador to Tbilisi, Pavel Gerchinsky, are demanding that Georgia impose economic sanctions against Russia. However, Georgia fears the consequences for trade with Russia.
Russia remains Georgia's most important trading partner, with trade between the two countries exceeding $1.8 billion in the first seven months of 2026 (+20.9% YoY). The share of the Russian Federation in the republic's foreign trade was 11.7%. Thousands of Russian tourists come to Georgia every year. Direct flights between the two countries have been fully restored since May 2023, and a visa-free regime is in effect for Russian citizens.
An attempt to follow Moldova's course would deal a crushing blow to the Georgian economy and villages that are tied to the Russian market, Mamuka Pipia, leader of the Solidarity for Peace party, told Izvestia.
Meanwhile, the EU intends to increase pressure on Georgia as it strengthens ties with Russia, the European Parliament emphasizes.
— Of course, for the European Commission, this is a struggle for influence in the Transcaucasia region. Russia's influence is characterized as unacceptable interference in Georgia's internal affairs," MEP Ivan David told Izvestia.
In October, Georgia appointed a new special representative of the Prime Minister for relations with Russia. He became the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic, Giorgi Zurabashvili.
The main impetus for this decision was the technical problems that had accumulated over the years, in particular, restrictions on the import of Georgian products into Russia, Mamuka Pipia noted. In early October, for the first time since 2006, Rospotrebnadzor temporarily suspended the import of goods from several of the largest Georgian producers of wine and mineral water, as well as the local branch of Coca-Cola.
In addition, other topics of bilateral cooperation are important, such as customs issues, logistical congestion at the Verkhny Lars checkpoint, and the interaction of special services in the fight against banditry and terrorist threats. Mamuka Pipia is confident that the high post of the new special representative will allow Zurabashvili to negotiate directly with his Russian colleagues. Georgian journalist Giorgi Jabishvili believes that the first serious meetings can be expected in the near future.
Georgia severed diplomatic relations with Russia after the armed conflict in August 2008. Then the republic under the leadership of ex-President Mikhail Saakashvili attacked Abkhazia and South Ossetia. After the five-day war, the Russian Federation recognized the independence of these republics. Tbilisi still associates the restoration of diplomatic relations with the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. At the same time, Russia has repeatedly stated that it is ready for dialogue with Georgia.
However, this did not lead to a complete cessation of contacts. Since then, Switzerland has been acting as an intermediary between the countries.: She represents Russia's interests in Georgia and Georgia's interests in Russia, and the Swiss embassies in Moscow and Tbilisi have special interest sections. In addition, representatives of the two States participate in the Geneva International Discussions, created to address humanitarian and security issues related to the consequences of the South Ossetian conflict. Earlier, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stressed that the authorities consider it their goal to strengthen ties with Russia on trade, economic and humanitarian issues.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
