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ISTANBUL

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday accused European officials of encouraging extremism in Georgia, alleging that their response to such claims lacks factual substance and resembles a “Soviet approach.”

Kobakhidze made the remarks while responding to a Swedish government representative’s recent statements, saying Tbilisi has concrete evidence of foreign involvement in domestic unrest.

“When we talk to Europeans, we say that we have facts. Let’s counter this with facts, not lies and general statements,” he said. “They were directly on stage, making calls, giving instructions on the Maidan. These are facts.”

Referring to a video shared by Georgia’s parliament speaker, the premier claimed it showed foreign actors giving direct instructions to demonstrators, which he called “indisputable evidence.”

“When we tell you that you are encouraging extremism, we prove it with facts, videos, and your financing practices,” he added, accusing unnamed European actors of funding radical movements in the country.

Kobakhidze argued that instead of addressing these claims factually, European counterparts respond with vague accusations and “lies,” likening their stance to the rhetoric used in the Soviet era.

Georgia has been an EU candidate since 2023. The ruling Georgian Dream party in November 2024 paused EU accession talks until 2028, protests against which have continued since then.