Georgian PM slams EU official's “attempt to influence” domestic politics as “futile”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday criticised Carl Bildt, the former Swedish Prime Minister and Co-Chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations, for “attempting to influence” his country’s politics, claiming the alleged intentions were “futile”.  

The PM rejected Bildt’s recent social media post, which included support for protests against the Georgian Government’s decision last month not to include European Union accession talks in its agenda until 2028, and questioned the legitimacy of President-elect Mikheil Kavelashvili. 

Speaking to Imedi TV about the claims, Kobakhidze asserted Georgia was an “independent and sovereign nation” and would “not allow foreign interference” in domestic matters. 

Carl Bildt cannot appoint any Central Committee Secretary in this country, and nor can any official from any European capital”, Kobakhidze claimed in reference to Soviet-era bureaucrats appointed from Moscow. “We are an independent and sovereign state, and we will defend our sovereignty to the end”, he added. 

The PM also downplayed the significance of Bildt’s statements, noting his “longstanding ties” to the United National Movement opposition party, which ran Georgia between 2004-2012.