Georgia's Opposition Leader Accuses PM of Sabotaging EU Candidacy, Calls for Sanctions on Ruling Party Leaders
On May 31, Levan Khabeishvili, the Chair of the opposition United National Movement party (UNM), said that after sabotaging the EU candidate status, the "Russian Garibashvili" [Georgian PM] declared on behalf of Georgia that he does not want Georgia to join NATO.
"Who does not want Georgia to be a member of NATO and the EU? It is Putin, official Moscow, and Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of our Russian party. Therefore, we urge the international community not to sanction Georgia but to begin sanctioning Russian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili and his henchmen Irakli Kobakhidze and Irakli Garibashvili. It will be a significant and effective move," Khabeishvili stated.
UNM also declared its willingness to work with political parties and non-governmental organizations to create a coordinated action strategy against the Russian government.
See Also
EU Envoys Warn Georgia Over Reform Delays While Reaffirming Membership Hope
Georgia Intensifies Criticism of EU and Ambassador Herczynski Over Domestic Political Tensions
Weekly Brief on Military Situation in South Caucasus (4-10 May, 2026)
Simonyan Accuses Russia of Abandoning Armenia in 2020 War; Criticizes Historical Dependence on Moscow