Georgian PM credits Bidzina Ivanishvili for rational politics, seeks reboot with the US, EU

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday said that during the previous US administration, the American bureaucracy was treating Georgia as an enemy, “while the country remains in a one-sided friendship mode and is ready to reset relations” - a pragmatic approach he said was established in Georgian politics by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

In his interview with Rustavi 2 TV channel, Kobakhidze noted that the European bureaucracy was involved in attempts to implement the so-called “second front” scenario amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“For years we have seen that, under the previous administration, the American side, the bureaucracy, viewed us as enemies - including the [US] Ambassador here, certain people from the Department of State, and so on. The same applies to Europe, where we are still treated as adversaries. Is that normal? One of the top EU representatives recently met with five Central Asian countries, Azerbaijan and Armenia - everyone in the region except Georgia. What could justify this? By what criteria are we singled out - economy, democracy, human rights? None of these explain it. Clearly, someone once envisioned a scenario involving Georgia, and the European bureaucracy was engaged in its implementation - the second front scenario, which failed because they could not change the government”, he said.

“This is why they still treat us as enemies. The so-called deep state operates under a simple model - you are either an agent or an enemy. This approach must change. We cannot become agents, but we should not be viewed as enemies either. We ask to be treated as partners. If this happens - and I hope it will, despite the difficult background - everything will change”, the PM continued.

He further highlighted that despite the EU spokesperson joining the campaign supporting the coup, the EU Ambassador calling on voters to support the opposition just days before the election, and “five foreign-backed revolution attempts over the past four years, Georgia still maintains a one-sided friendship and remains open to resetting relations”.

“There are no grudges in politics. I believe everyone now understands that for 13 years we have acted without emotion - this was personally established in Georgian politics by Bidzina Ivanishvili. All our past troubles - the early 1990s unrest, the coup, the corruption, the Rose Revolution, the bloody dictatorship - stemmed from emotions. What Ivanishvili introduced is rational and pragmatic politics. If we acted emotionally, we’d say we no longer want relations with the EU. But we understand we are a European country, and relations with both the EU and the US must be reset”, the PM stressed.

Kobakhidze further confirmed that his Government’s goal for Georgia to become part of the European family by 2030 still stands.

“Of course, it remains. If we viewed everything emotionally, we’d turn away, considering what’s happening there. But we proceed pragmatically, hoping trends will change. That’s why I say: yes, you wanted my downfall, interfered in elections, and called on voters to vote against us - but let’s put emotions aside and reset relations. We are ready to shake hands with Ambassador Herczyński, the spokesperson, Kallas, Kos, and anyone else, because politics is about national interests, not emotions. Yes, they wanted this, but it didn’t happen. Perhaps now they will realize it’s time to talk to us, not try to bring the opposition back to power”, he concluded.