Georgia’s ruling party Sec Gen: pressure and threats will not work against Georgia

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday criticised remarks by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas regarding discussions on the Black Sea region strategy without Georgia’s participation, accusing certain European politicians of attempting to influence decisions concerning Georgia through “pressure, threats, and blackmail”.

In his remarks, Kaladze noted that the country has faced “a hostile attitude” from some European officials in recent years.

“Hostility toward the Georgian state continues. We know the main reason behind all of this. In general, I believe implementing this project without Georgia is inconceivable”, he said.

The Mayor highlighted that the approach of certain European politicians toward Georgia has been based on “lies, slander, blackmail, and threats”.

“This is merely a political narrative and a hostile attitude that we have witnessed in recent years toward the Georgian people and the Georgian state. It is based solely on lies, falsehoods, and defamation. Blackmail and threats are all we have seen from certain European politicians over the past few years”, he stated.

Kaladze said such an approach was “categorically unacceptable”, adding that all foreign officials, including Kaja Kallas, should respect Georgia’s independence, sovereignty, and statehood.

He further added that the Georgian Government had repeatedly expressed its readiness for dialogue but had received no reciprocal response.

“We see the language they use - there is no dialogue, only threats and blackmail. Despite the fact that we have repeatedly expressed our readiness for dialogue and to hear concrete arguments, no one has raised the issue of holding such talks. That is understandable because there are no arguments. They simply want to force decisions regarding Georgia through pressure, threats, and blackmail. This approach and these relations cannot continue in this form”, the Mayor noted.

Addressing domestic politics, Kaladze emphasized that the Georgian people determine the country’s government through elections. He argued that the ruling Georgian Dream party continues to hold the mandate of the electorate following its victory in the parliamentary elections.

He further claimed that European bureaucracy is facing a serious crisis and described the attitude of certain European politicians toward Georgia as unfair and unacceptable.