(MENAFN) Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, has accused the European Union of meddling in Georgia’s internal politics and forcing unfair political demands, likening the bloc’s approach to Soviet-era tactics. His remarks came in response to the European Commission’s recent warning that Georgia’s EU accession process could be halted if the government does not follow what Brussels calls a democratic path by the end of summer. The EU also threatened to suspend visa-free travel for Georgian citizens if key reforms, such as repealing the ‘foreign agents’ law and advancing LGBTQ+ rights, are not implemented.

Papuashvili stated on Friday that the EU’s involvement amounts to direct interference in Georgian elections, suggesting that some Brussels officials have adopted strategies reminiscent of the Soviet Union. Georgia, a former Soviet republic, applied for EU membership in March 2022 and was granted candidate status in late 2023 but has since paused accession talks, citing Brussels’ increasingly coercive stance. Despite this, the government maintains its commitment to joining the EU eventually.

The ruling Georgian Dream party, which won a decisive victory in the October elections, has frequently accused Western countries of interference disguised as democracy promotion. Officials in Tbilisi compare these efforts to the 2014 Maidan protests in Ukraine and argue that similar tactics are being used to destabilize Georgia because of its refusal to adopt a confrontational policy toward Russia amid the Ukraine conflict. Moscow denies any involvement but has drawn parallels between Georgia’s situation and Ukraine’s 2014 upheaval.

After Georgian Dream’s win, a coalition of pro-Western parties claimed election fraud and initiated protests seeking the government’s resignation. The EU and US expressed support for the opposition, which the Georgian leadership condemned as foreign meddling. Papuashvili also criticized the EU’s earlier move to revoke visa privileges for diplomatic and service passport holders, calling it a violation of international law and the 2010 visa agreement. Georgia has enjoyed visa-free access to the EU since 2017.

MENAFN27072025000045015687ID1109847922