Georgia's Foreign Ministry condemns decision to suspend EU integration
Photo: Georgian diplomats condemned the postponement of the country's EU accession talks (Getty Images)
Dozens of Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs employees have condemned the government's decision to suspend the country's integration into the EU. They expressed their position in a joint statement, Newsgeorgia reports.
The statement notes that "over the years, Georgian diplomacy has made full efforts to join the European and Euro-Atlantic structures of Georgia, which is the will and historical choice of the Georgian people." Given this fact, "Today's statement on Georgia's withdrawal from the agenda of EU accession negotiations until 2028 does not correspond to the country's strategic interests."
According to the statement's authors, the government's decision contradicts the requirements of Article 78 of the Georgian Constitution, which outlines the country's course towards EU and NATO membership.
They highlighted that international political events drive the current wave of EU expansion and "represent an unprecedented historical opportunity for Georgia." Diplomats warn that the country's refusal to seize this opportunity "will lead to negative strategic consequences," and this opportunity may never arise again.
"In addition, the stalling of the accession negotiation process will lead to the isolation of the country. Without the support of the Western partners, Georgia remains face to face with threats that are especially intensified in the background of the ongoing processes in the international and security environment," the statement reads.
As of now, 78 employees of the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have signed the statement. Among them are department heads and diplomats serving abroad.
The controversial government decision
In October, parliamentary elections were held in Georgia. They were marred by blatant violations, including mass ballot stuffing.
According to the election results, the pro-Russian party Georgian Dream secured the largest number of seats in parliament, winning 54% of the vote. Opposition political parties and President Salome Zourabichvili refused to recognize the results and announced protests in Tbilisi.
On Thursday, November 28, Irakli Kobakhidze, the leader of the Georgian Dream party and the country's Prime Minister, announced that the government had decided to suspend negotiations on Georgia's EU membership until 2028.
This decision sparked mass protests in central Tbilisi.
Overnight, demonstrators attempted to break into the parliament building. However, police and special forces aggressively dispersed the crowd using tear gas, water cannons, and chemical agents while making arrests.
