Georgian Prime Minister: Comparison with Moldova is “insulting”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday objected to a comparison between Georgia and Moldova, calling it “insulting”, in response to a statement made on Monday by Josep Borrell, the European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, who highlighted Moldova’s “significant progress” towards EU membership despite Russia’s intimidation, while deeming the situation in Georgia “worrying”.

Kobakhidze claimed that Georgia was ahead of Moldova “in various aspects,” including the economy and human rights.

Georgia is ahead of Moldova in all areas, whether human rights, economics or others. We have increased the economic gap with Moldova by nine billion dollars, which is due to the strength of our institutions compared to Moldova,” he said.

In terms of democracy and human rights, political parties and media have been banned in Moldova, leaving only two media outlets remaining, the public broadcaster’s Channel One and Channel Two. There is no more political and media pluralism,” Kobakhidze continued.

When they compare (Georgia) to such a country in a negative context, it is like throwing ashes in our eyes. However, this cannot harm our country. The elections will be over, the war in Ukraine will end and our relations with the EU will definitely resume,” he added.

Borrell also said that the “actions, declarations and election promises” of the ruling Georgian Dream party were moving the country “away from the European path” and “towards authoritarianism”.

He said the country’s EU accession process had “effectively been stopped”. The official added that the upcoming parliamentary elections would serve as a “litmus test for Georgian democracy and its path to the bloc.”