In a stunning and deliberate pivot, Georgia’s government has effectively slammed the brakes on its European integration journey. Yesterday, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party would suspend starting EU accession talks until 2028 and refuse European budgetary support. This declaration follows a cascade of alarming developments, including widespread allegations of electoral fraud during the October 26 parliamentary elections and an increasingly critical stance from Brussels regarding Georgia’s democratic backsliding.

By framing this decision as a defence against external interference, the GD leadership has sent a clear and unambiguous message: the government is no longer officially pursuing EU integration. This development marks the culmination of what can be described as a constitutional coup, evident in two key aspects.

First, it directly contradicts Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia, which enshrines EU membership as an irreversible path for the country. Second, the first session of the Parliament was convened without the approval of the President, despite the Constitution not granting any authority to Parliament to act as a substitute in such circumstances.

Democratic Backsliding: A Calculated Retreat

The October 26 elections were more than a litmus test for democracy—they became a stage for its systematic dismantling. Reports from international observers detailed voter intimidation, breaches of ballot secrecy, vote buying, and other irregularities. The opposition, rejecting the results, has boycotted parliament, while President Salome Zurabishvili has taken the unprecedented step of challenging the elections in the Constitutional Court, citing violations of ballot secrecy and the disenfranchisement of Georgian expatriates.

These developments do not reflect a broken system but rather a deliberate strategy by Georgian Dream to consolidate its grip on power. The decision to appoint a new president—bereft of diplomatic experience, lacking even a university degree, and best known for championing the Russia-inspired “foreign agents” law – sends a clear and unapologetic signal to Brussels that GD has little interest in maintaining its European trajectory. Loyal to GD and its oligarchic backer Bidzina Ivanishvili, this figure’s selection stands in sharp contrast to the current President, Salome Zurabishvili, who will be the last directly elected President of Georgia and whose mandate expires in a month. Known for her pro-Western orientation, Zurabishvili has become a thorn in the ruling Georgian Dream party’s side while simultaneously serving as a unifying figure for Georgia’s fragmented opposition.

GD’s retreat from European norms is deliberate and methodical. By portraying EU integration as a threat to Georgian sovereignty, the government appeals to conservative values and exploits national pride. Framing EU membership as contingent on adopting liberal policies such as same-sex marriage, the ruling party positions the EU as an antagonist meddling in Georgia’s domestic affairs. This rhetoric seeks to undermine public support for EU membership, even as 80% of Georgians continue to view the EU as a path to prosperity and security.

EU Response So Far

The European Union has responded with growing alarm but measured action. It has not recognised the results of the October 26 elections, apart from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán—who prematurely congratulated Georgian authorities before the official results were announced. The EU has announced the deployment of a technical mission to investigate the reported irregularities and electoral fraud.

Yesterday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the elections, calling for new elections, and recommending sanctions against GD leaders for democratic backsliding, electoral violations, and abuse of state resources. The resolution also urged the EU to reassess its visa facilitation agreement with Georgia, warning of a potential suspension if democratic standards continue to erode.

Predictably, this resolution provoked a strong reaction from Georgian Dream. Prime Minister Kobakhidze seized on the resolution as a pretext to halt accession talks entirely, portraying it as evidence of Brussels’ undue interference. This calculated act of defiance fits seamlessly into the government’s broader narrative of sovereignty under siege- an argument strategically deployed to rationalise its increasingly authoritarian grip on power.

The Stakes for Georgia’s Future Could Not Be Higher

The decision to freeze EU accession talks until 2028 will isolate Georgia internationally while deeply undermining the aspirations of its people. For ordinary Georgians, EU integration is not an abstract ideal but a tangible hope for economic stability, freedom, and democratic governance. Yet, the ruling party’s actions have thrown these aspirations into jeopardy, creating a growing chasm between a government entrenched in power and a population yearning for a European future.

Protests erupted throughout Georgia after the PM’s announcement. With protests becoming stronger, riot police started gathering close to the Parliament building and the Freedom Square and started dispersing the rally with tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons. The rally will resume today.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting on December 16 is set to discuss Georgia once again. The EU Ambassador to Georgia has stated that “all options are on the table,” including the potential suspension of visa liberalisation.

Yet, the potential suspension of visa liberalisation—a step the EU may take if democratic backsliding persists—would disproportionately harm ordinary Georgians, restricting their ability to travel, study, and work in Europe. Meanwhile, the ruling elites, insulated by wealth and power, remain largely unaffected. This dynamic threatens to deepen public disillusionment and political polarisation in a country already grappling with fragile institutions.

Not An End!

The decision to halt Georgia’s EU integration is not a decision by Georgia, but a unilateral choice by the ruling party – yet it is a watershed moment in the nation’s history. The choices made today will reverberate for decades, shaping Georgia’s political trajectory, economic prospects, and role on the global stage. This is a pivotal juncture, determining whether the country continues its journey toward Europe or falls back into the orbit of imperialist Russia.

Therefore, this moment cannot and should not mark the end of Georgia’s European story. Instead, it serves as a stark reminder of democracy’s vulnerability. Whether this turning point is remembered as the day Georgia abandoned Europe, or as the beginning of its return towards the EU will depend on the resilience of its people, but first and foremost on the commitment of its international allies.

Now is the time for the EU to reaffirm its commitment to the Georgian people and their European dream. This requires a strategy that moves beyond rhetoric – one that mobilises civil society, empowers grassroots movements, and draws on the strength of the Georgian diaspora to bridge the growing divide between Georgia and Europe. Such a vision must inspire and sustain those of us who continue to believe in the promise of a democratic, European future for our country – one that will bring it closer to becoming an integral part of the European Union.