Georgian Dream Rejects EU's Kaja Kallas' Concerns Over Arrests and Protests
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, has expressed concern over the arrests of individuals in Georgia, stating that pressure is being put on those who are using violence against peaceful protesters.
"We have been putting pressure on those who are actually conducting violence against peaceful protesters," Kallas noted.
In response to Kallas' statement, Georgian officials dismissed her remarks as unfounded. Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the Georgian Dream party and Tbilisi Mayor, labeled the EU High Representative's statements as based on "lies," asserting that they "have no value."
Kaladze added, "We hear such unfair statements very often. This is not new to us. Basically, the statements made by them are based on lies, falsehoods, and have no value."
Kaladze also addressed media reports suggesting that 15 countries are calling for new elections in Georgia, describing it as "ordinary nonsense" and urging foreign officials to focus on their own countries instead of interfering in Georgia's domestic affairs.
"This is ordinary nonsense. It is better for them to take care of their own countries and stop interfering in the internal political affairs of other countries," Kaladze stated.
Levan Makhashvili, the chairman of the parliamentary committee on European integration, also criticized Kallas' remarks, calling them "not serious." He suggested that there is a specific interest in the issue of Georgia from certain individuals who are trying to create an "alternative agenda" and assist the opposition in radicalizing its actions.
"At least it is not serious. In general, where this statement was made - at the Foreign Relations Council, for the first time in recent years, the agenda is what actually the problem of the European Union is. These are all the crises, wars, and political tensions that exist both inside and outside the European Union. Georgia is not logically on this agenda, because Georgia has not been and will not be the main problem that the European Union will focus on - Georgia was, is, and will generally be a reliable partner of the West in this region," Makhashvili said.
He further claimed that the focus on Georgia by certain EU officials is motivated by personal interests and attempts to fuel "radical opposition" actions.
"What is evident is the personal interest of specific individuals in the issue of Georgia and their interest in creating an alternative agenda and helping the radical opposition in further radicalizing their steps. We are only observing this. Nothing else interesting is coming from her or her colleagues," Makhashvili added.
