Georgian President says interference of specific MEPs, individual bureaucrats, foreign ministers in pre-election rallies “unacceptable”

Georgia’s President Mikheil Kavelashvili on Thursday said in an interview with the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung that the Government's actions were well thought out, rational, and long-term. He accused certain Members of the European Parliament, bureaucrats, and foreign ministers of violating democratic principles by interfering in pre-election gatherings.

“We know where these processes are being orchestrated from and who is behind them. That is why we can resist them. We hope that realpolitik and objectivity will return”, Kavelashvili said.

The President also addressed the public discontent and ongoing protests, stating that the ruling party was ready to resume negotiations with the European Union when “specific and practical issues are raised”. However, he accused certain groups of attempting to provoke revolutionary processes through protests.

“Of course, we have this reality in Tbilisi. However, without our rational steps, the situation would have been even worse. We avoided war. We halted negotiations with the EU because we refused to comply with Brussels’ demands, as those demands were not part of the negotiation process. When real, substantive issues arise, we are ready to resume talks. That is why I said their actions are artificial - they want to incite revolutionary movements through protests”, the Georgian President said.