“Georgia is a European country and that it is our responsibility to make Georgia a full-fledged member of the European family, but Georgia-EU relations are bilateral and can only be bilateral. We are a proud and self-respecting nation with a long history. Therefore, it is categorically unacceptable for us to consider integration into the European Union as a favour that the European Union should grant us.”

Georgia's political landscape has been marked by increasing tensions with the European Union following controversial developments surrounding the country's parliamentary elections and subsequent actions by the Georgian government. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, has been criticized for undermining democratic principles, including voter intimidation, vote manipulation, and interference with the media and election observers. These actions have prompted the European Parliament to condemn Georgia's October 26 elections, deeming them neither free nor fair, and casting doubt on the legitimacy of the election results.

In response to the EU's growing concerns, Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced a suspension of the country's EU membership application process until 2028, signaling a shift away from closer integration with Europe. This decision came on the heels of the EU's suspension of financial support to Georgia, triggered by the controversial "foreign agent" law and other moves seen as anti-democratic. The EU also expressed strong disapproval of Georgia's political trajectory, with European lawmakers calling for sanctions against Georgian officials and questioning the country’s commitment to its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

Meanwhile, Georgia's opposition has boycotted the newly formed parliament, refusing to recognize its legitimacy, which has only deepened the political divide within the country [ President Joins Protesters In Tbilisi As Georgia Shuns EU Accession Talks - November 28, 2024 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]. The ongoing political crisis highlights Georgia's delicate balancing act between maintaining sovereignty and pursuing deeper ties with the West, while grappling with internal divisions and external pressure regarding its democratic development.