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Georgia Suspends EU Talks Until 2028, Sparking Protests Over Election Dispute

Nov 28, 2024, 04:03 PM

Georgia has decided to suspend its European Union membership talks until the end of 2028, following a resolution by the European Parliament that rejected the results of the country's October parliamentary elections, citing significant irregularities and democratic backsliding under the Georgian Dream party. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would not pursue opening negotiations with the EU and would also decline any EU budget grants during this period. This decision has sparked widespread protests across the nation, with demonstrators gathering outside the Georgian Dream party headquarters, the parliament building, and the presidential palace in Tbilisi, as well as in regional cities like Kutaisi, Batumi, and Zugdidi. President Salome Zourabichvili has condemned the move, describing it as a 'constitutional coup' and a shift towards Russia, urging the EU to disregard the government's announcement.