Georgian PM says freedom of business will be “fully ensured regardless of political views”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday said freedom of business would be “fully ensured in our country, regardless of political views”, in comments about a joint statement from a group of domestic companies that have called for a rerun of the October parliamentary elections amid ongoing protests across the country against the Government’s decision to postpone European Union accession talks until 2028.

Kobakhidze claimed freedom of business represented “one of the most important achievements” since 2012, when the ruling Georgian Dream came into power, as “no business” had been “spared racketeering” under the former United National Movement Government.

The PM also said the exchange rate of the national currency had begun to strengthen “as soon as the political situation in the country stabilised”, in reference to the tensions amid the ongoing protests.

The head of the Government noted “only minor intervention” had been required to ensure stability of the rate over the recent days, adding the outcome had been ensured by the National Bank “without any significant interventions”.