Irakli Kobakhidze

His government accelerated the deterioration of relations with the West and has been accused of internationally sabotaging Georgia’s EU membership bid.

"[6] Under Kobakhidze's tenure, Georgia has undergone democratic backsliding, violence and torture of protesters opposing ruling party policies, and a shift towards authoritarianism.

His rhetoric has been widely described as anti-Western, with him accusing the West of pushing Georgia into "opening a second front" and joining the Russo-Ukrainian War on numerous occasions.

[7][8][9] Kobakhidze is a largely nominal figurehead of the Georgian government and is ultimately accountable to Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire oligarch who is widely recognized as the de facto ruler of Georgia.

[22][23] In addition, strategic cooperation agreements were signed with a number of the Parliaments of the partner countries such as the Poland,[24] Latvia,[25] Uzbekistan[26] and Serbia.

[28] Utilizing the supermajority Georgian Dream now possessed, the parliament under Kobakidze's leadership made grand amendments to the constitution.

Changes include making the country a parliamentary republic, transferring the electoral system to a fully proportional one by 2024, abolishing direct presidential elections, and extending the term of the president from 5 to 6 years.

[38] In June 2022, the European Parliament passed several resolutions against the Georgian government and refused to grant Georgia candidate status.

Kobakhidze attributed the achievement to the Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, who, in his words, “laid the foundation” to replace “Soviet-style authoritarianism” with “European-style democratic and fair governance”.

[45] Although Kobakhidze's first official trip as prime minister was held in Brussels on 20–21 February, his term has seen significantly deteriorating relations with the West.

On 23 May 2024, Kobakhidze expanded the "Global War Party" conspiracy theory, and accused it of being responsible for the attempted assassination of Robert Fico.

[7][58][9] Nevertheless, Kobakhidze rejected the charges of being "anti-American" and "anti-European", still naming the European integration and the partnership with the US as the "foreign policy priority" of his administration.

Kobakhidze used the "Global War Party" interchangeably with the "Deep State", accusing it of instigating the conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and Syria.

[63] While talking on European integration, Kobakhidze emphasized that it would be acceptable only with Georgia's "independence, sovereignty, values" being respected and safeguarded during this process.

[65] Similarly, Kobakhidze condemned Georgia's Rose Revolution, saying that it resulted in the widespread torture, decline of the media freedom, economic liberty, and the loss of territories.

During his speech, Kobakhidze emphasized the importance of the traditional values and national identity, while warning of the threats posed by "LGBT propaganda" and "uncontrolled migration".

[67] However, the Kobakhidze's speech came amidst the growing right-wing turn of the Georgian Dream, deteriorating relations with the West, and strengthening of ties with Hungary.

Kobakhidze meeting with the Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman in 2018.
Kobakhidze (left) celebrating Georgia receiving EU candidate status, 15 December 2023
Protest held in Tbilisi against the "foreign agent" bill reintroduced by the Kobakhidze government