Georgian PM claims EU Commissioner “voiced threat” against overcoming veto on transparency law in phone conversation

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday claimed the unspecified European Commissioner had “listed a number of measures” Western politicians might take if the Georgian President’s veto on the recently adopted law on transparency of foreign influence was overcome by the ruling Georgian Dream party in a phone conversation.

Kobakhidze claimed the official had made the comment while adding “You've seen what happened to [Slovak PM] Fico and you should be very careful”, in reference to the Government official being shot in the central Slovakian town of Handlová last week.

“The public is observing the developments surrounding the law on transparency, and has noticed that several high-ranking foreign politicians do not hesitate to use open blackmail against the Georgian people and their elected Government”, the PM alleged.

“We have become accustomed to this kind of insulting blackmail, and it has essentially lost its impact on both society and the Government”, he added.

However, even in the face of prolonged blackmail, the threat voiced during a telephone conversation with one of European commissioners was shocking. During our conversation, the [...] Commissioner listed a number of measures that Western politicians might take if the veto on the transparency law is overcome. While listing these measures, he mentioned, ‘You've seen what happened to Fico and you should be very careful’”, he said.

Kobakhidze stressed it was “extremely disturbing” to see the “terrorist attack” on the Slovak PM, who was still undergoing treatment, being mentioned “in the context of blackmail” related to the law.

“I would like to emphasise that, according to preliminary information, the attack on the Prime Minister of Slovakia is linked to one of the special services of a country that is particularly closely connected with the Global War Party”, he noted in reference to unspecified political forces in the West who allegedly seek to create a revolutionary scenario in Georgia and involve the country into opening a “second front” amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The PM stressed he felt “obliged to inform the Georgian public” about the alleged threat, saying the parallel drawn with the attempted assassination of Fico was a “reminder that the Global War Party is an extremely dangerous force willing to do anything to bring chaos to Georgia”.

He further expressed his confidence the alleged plans would “not succeed this time either”, and that the Georgian Government would “maintain peace and political stability”, which he said were “essential for the development of the country”.