Georgia’s Political Tensions Rise: EU Membership in Jeopardy After Police Brutality and Election Controversy

The State Department condemned police violence in Georgia and highlighted that the people want closer ties with Europe.

Recently, Georgian media reported that David Zalkaliani resigned as Georgia’s ambassador to the U.S. He held the position since April 2022.

Tensions rose in Georgia after the Moscow-aligned Georgian Dream party claimed victory in the Oct. 26 election, which the opposition disputes due to alleged fraud. Polls indicate that about 80% of Georgians support EU membership, but the government is increasingly aligning with Russia. As a result, EU leaders paused Georgia’s membership process on Oct. 30, stating that the nation has regressed.

The EU granted Georgia candidate status last year, aiming for EU membership. However, lawmakers from the ruling party passed a law similar to Russia’s, labeling Western-supported NGOs as “foreign agents” and restricting LGBTQ+ rights, leading to a suspension of the application.

The U.S. has placed sanctions on Georgian Dream lawmakers for undermining democracy and for their crackdown on protests that occurred during the summer.