Georgia postpones EU bid until 2028, accusing Brussels of 'blackmail'

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Thursday that Tbilisi will be postponing EU accession talks until 2028 amid allegations by the opposition and European Parliament that his ruling party Georgian Dream had committed electoral fraud during October's legislative elections.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Thursday that while Tbilisi remains committed to its goal of European Union membership, it will not pursue accession until 2028, accusing Brussels of "blackmail".

The announcement came hours after the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution rejecting the results of Georgia's October 26 parliamentary elections, alleging "significant irregularities".

The resolution called for new elections to be held within a year under international supervision and for sanctions to be imposed on top Georgian officials, including Kobakhidze.

Accusing the European Parliament and "some European politicians" of "blackmail," Kobakhidze said: "We have decided not to bring up the issue of joining the European Union on the agenda until the end of 2028."

But he pledged to continue implementing the necessary reforms, asserting that "by 2028, Georgia will be more prepared than any other candidate country to open accession talks with Brussels and become a member state in 2030".

The former Soviet country officially gained EU candidate status in December 2023.

Zurabishvili held an "emergency meeting" with foreign diplomats, her office said.

(AFP)

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