Latest news with #IrakliKobakhidze
Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Georgia's foreign-agents act ‘a serious setback': EU officials
BRUSSELS: A new law in Georgia that from Saturday requires NGOs and media outlets to register as 'foreign agents' if they receive funding from abroad is a 'serious setback,' for the country, two top EU officials said. Alongside other laws on broadcasting and grants, 'these repressive measures threaten the very survival of Georgia's democratic foundations and the future of its citizens in a free and open society,' EU diplomatic chief Kaja Kallas and EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said in a joint statement. They stressed that the law, which they dubbed a tool 'by the Georgian authorities to suppress dissent (and) restrict freedoms,' jeopardized the country's ambitions of one day joining the European Union. 'Georgia's Foreign Agents Registration Act marks a serious setback for the country's democracy,' they said. Georgia's law is inspired by US legislation which makes it mandatory for any person or organization representing a foreign country, group or party to declare its activities to authorities. But NGOs believe it will be used by Georgia's illiberal and Euroskeptic government to further repression of civil society and the opposition. The Black Sea nation has been rocked by daily demonstrations since late last year, with protesters decrying what they see as an increasingly authoritarian and pro-Russia government. Tensions escalated in November when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would postpone EU membership talks until 2028. 'The EU is ready to consider the return of Georgia to the EU accession path if the authorities take credible steps to reverse democratic backsliding,' Kallas and Kos said in their statement.
Budapest Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Budapest Times
PM holds talks with Georgian counterpart in Budapest
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held talks with Irakli Kobakhidze, his Georgian counterpart, in his office in Budapest on Wednesday. According to MTI , the pair reviewed the current situation of Hungarian-Georgian economic and trade relations and explored possibilities to develop them. The two leaders made preparations for a Hungarian-Georgian governmental summit scheduled to be held in Budapest in June. Kobakhidze will deliver an address at the CPAC Hungary conference taking place in Budapest on May 29-30.
Toronto Star
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Court rules to arrest Georgian opposition leader as anti-government protests continue
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — A court in Georgia ordered opposition party leader Zurab Japaridze detained Thursday on charges of failing to appear before a parliamentary inquiry as protests continued against the ruling Georgian Dream party. Demonstrators waving Georgian and European Union flags blocked the central thoroughfare in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, demanding new elections and the release of dissidents. Demonstrators have gathered there each night since Nov. 28, when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze halted the country's EU integration process.
Euronews
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Georgia's PM meets European leaders in Tirana, signalling EU thaw
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's participation in the 6th Summit of the European Political Community (EPC) in Tirana on Friday marked a thaw in the strained relations between Tbilisi and the European Union, after both parties hit pause on the South Caucasus country's EU accession talks. A short, but warm encounter between the Georgian premier and French President Emmanuel Macron during the summit signalled that Georgia and the EU are turning the page on their past differences. Kobakhidze underlined this moment by telling journalists that 'there was a period of limited communication (between Georgia and the EU) and it seems our European partners were eager to restore ties with Georgia.' The Georgian prime minister explained the thaw by his country's 'vital role for Europe' adding that 'everyone understands the need to engage with Georgia and its leadership, and this is likely why many initiatives have come from European leaders.' 'Everyone should recognise Georgia's strategic importance for Europe, especially for the eurozone. Our role in the region is significant, and that's why the need for dialogue with Georgian leaders is increasingly acknowledged,' he said. The EU gave Georgia candidate status in December 2023 but halted its membership application process indefinitely and cut financial support last June after the passage of a "foreign influence" law that the bloc considered to be Russian-inspired and authoritarian, on the backdrop of massive anti-government protests in the capital Tbilisi. Then after winning the general elections last October, Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would pause discussions on its bid to join the EU until 2028 due to what the prime minister described then as "blackmail and manipulation" from some of the bloc's politicians. In an interview with Euronews in November, Kobakhidze said the ball was in Brussels' court, emphasising that he was still "very optimistic" that his country would obtain EU membership by 2030, describing it as key strategic objective for Georgia. Kobakhidze was reappointed in November as prime minister by the ruling Georgian Dream party, in power since 2012, but his election victory sparked massive demonstrations. Opposition forces — including Georgia's former president Salome Zourabichvili —condemned the election results as a "total falsification" of the vote. The European Parliament in November adopted a resolution condemning the vote and calling for new elections to be held under international supervision. And then on Friday, Kobakhidze announced that he chose the EPC as 'a significant event where discussions will focus on the main messages concerning our country's fundamental national interests.' The European Political Community summit in Tirana which brings together heads of state and government of almost 40 countries, both EU and non-members. 'I am ready to speak with everyone—let's see how it unfolds. This format allows us to engage with many leaders on issues related to our country's development, regional stability, and Georgia's European integration,' the Georgian prime minister signalled to participating leaders. And then as the summit was about to start, Macron approached Kobakhidze to have a brief but apparently warm exchange, amounting to a symbolic change of tone between Georgia and the EU. The summit video also showed Kobakhidze talking to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The Georgian prime minister also held formal talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a long-time supporter of the Georgian government. Kobakhidze explained this political evolution as a result of Georgia's 'key position' in the South Caucasus region. 'Over the years, we have made significant contributions to strengthening peace and stability in the region, and we remain committed to acting in this spirit moving forward,' Kobakhidze told Georgian journalists in Albania. 'We are connecting two neighbouring countries—Azerbaijan and Armenia—with Europe. Moreover, Georgia is undertaking several important projects with its neighbours that significantly improve connectivity," Kobakhidze said. "I believe this is of utmost importance not only for Georgia but also for Europe and the European Union, as it helps forge stronger links between the EU and our region,' the Georgian prime minister concluded.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia fired 700 civil servants for supporting pro-EU protests, watchdog says
(Reuters) - Georgia has fired around 700 civil servants for supporting pro-European Union protests in the South Caucasus country since December, according to the local chapter of anti-corruption organisation Transparency International. Large protests erupted in November, after the government, which critics say is moving in a pro-Russian and authoritarian direction, said it was freezing EU membership talks until 2028. The abrupt halt to a longstanding and popular national goal provoked widespread anger in the nation of 3.7 million. Employees of several government agencies signed open letters denouncing the move and senior diplomats at several foreign embassies resigned in protest. In early December, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said the open letters represented a "self-cleansing" of what he said were disloyal elements in the civil service. The protests, which are still ongoing, drew a violent crackdown by Georgian authorities that Western countries have condemned. Since the protests began, the ruling Georgian Dream party has repeatedly amended laws governing the civil service, weakening public sector workers' legal protections. Transparency International said that among the departments most affected by the dismissals were the defence ministry and Tbilisi city hall. A government spokesperson did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Traditionally among the most pro-Western of the Soviet Union's successor states, Georgia's relations with the West have soured in recent years as Tbilisi has moved to deepen ties with Moscow, especially since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The ruling Georgian Dream party, which is seen as controlled by billionaire former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, won re-election in an October election the opposition says was fraudulent. The party has in the last years introduced a series of laws, including curbs on LGBT rights and a controversial statute requiring organisations receiving money from overseas to register as "foreign agents" or face harsh penalties. Georgian Dream says it still wants to eventually join the EU, but that it also advocates balanced relations with former imperial power Russia, and the maintenance of traditional values.
