Senior Georgian Dream officials have rebuked EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas over comments that the EU does not want to support the Georgian government, but rather the Georgian people, made while answering a question about the bloc’s Black Sea strategic approach.
Upon arrival at the July 13 Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, HR/VP Kallas was asked how she sees issues concerning cooperation with and the involvement of Georgia in the EU’s Black Sea strategic approach, which foreign ministers had on the agenda for discussion.
Noting that the strategy had been launched a year ago and that ministers were set to review its implementation, Kallas said the countries around the Black Sea are “of course” an “important part” of it.
She continued: “Now we are also struggling with Georgia. We don’t really have connections with the [GD] government. We don’t want to support the government. We want to support the people of Georgia. We have also had discussions on how we can best do that so that the people do not lose hope in Europe.”
The comments came amid strained relations between Tbilisi and Brussels over the Georgian Dream government’s anti-democratic moves and anti-EU rhetoric. The EU said in November that Georgia is a candidate country “in name only” and moved in February to suspend visa-free travel for Georgian holders of diplomatic and service passports.
Senior Georgian Dream officials, including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, and disputed Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, sharply criticized Kallas over the comments, particularly her distinction between the Georgian government and the Georgian people.
Kobakhidze was asked by a pro-government Imedi TV journalist to comment on Kallas’ comments after the morning briefing, during which he denounced the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s recent Hague Declaration and accompanying critical resolutions and provisions on Georgia.
“We have often said that there is one country, the Russian Federation, which does not recognize Georgia’s sovereignty over 20% of its territory,” Kobakhidze said. “Then there is Ms. Kaja Kallas, who does not recognize Georgia’s sovereignty over 100% of its territory.” He called it a “shameful attitude” and a “disturbing occurrence” when the HR/VP “does not recognize, but instead opposes, the will of the Georgian people.”
Papuashvili wrote in a Facebook post, sharing Kallas’ comments, that “such rhetoric not only adds nothing to Georgia-EU relations, but further undermines the already weakened trust in Brussels among the Georgian public.” He added, “Such a statement implies that, in Ms. Kallas’ view, the Georgian people are incapable of choosing their own government and therefore need external supervision and guidance. This is not support for the Georgian people, but disrespect for their political choice.”
In her Facebook post, FM Botchorishvili said, “It is regrettable when the EU’s top diplomat openly state that she does not seek engagement with Georgia’s Government, chosen through the democratic will of the Georgian people, while claiming to support those same people. Dialogue, not disengagement, is the foundation of a genuine partnership.” She added that “Georgia remains committed to respectful engagement with the European Union in the interest of our citizens and our shared European future.”
A number of Western officials, institutions, and resolutions have expressed criticism of the Georgian Dream government while voicing support for the Georgian people, especially following the widely disputed October 26, 2024 parliamentary elections and subsequent events. Meanwhile, Georgian Dream, which faces legitimacy questions, insists that it is the democratically elected government and has dismissed concerns over the conduct of the elections.
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