Georgia on Brink of Expulsion from Council of Europe

A deepening rift between Georgia and its Western partners has reached a critical point, with deputies of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) proposing to restrict the powers of Georgia’s delegation and even expel the nation over its government’s alleged authoritarianism. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze dismissed the threat as “absurd,” noting that Tbilisi had already suspended its participation in the assembly in January, setting the stage for a major diplomatic confrontation.

The consequences of a potential expulsion are severe. Primarily, it would remove Georgia from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), stripping its citizens of the right to appeal to the Strasbourg-based court. This move would also absolve the ruling “Georgian Dream” party of its obligation to implement ECHR decisions. The situation echoes past tensions between the Council of Europe and other post-Soviet states, including Azerbaijan’s 2024 threat to withdraw and Russia’s departure in 2022.

Despite the escalating conflict, Prime Minister Kobakhidze insists that EU integration and a strategic partnership with the United States remain top priorities. He deflects criticism by blaming the current crisis not on his government’s policies but on a supposed “democratic regression” among its Western partners. According to Kobakhidze, the EU is avoiding a “healthy discussion” and is suffering from alarming trends in democracy, human rights, and its economy.

In a striking critique, Kobakhidze claimed that the European Union lacks sovereignty and is constrained by “external influence,” a common accusation often directed at Washington’s role in European affairs. He expressed hope that by 2030, when Georgia aims to be ready for EU membership, the bloc will have restored its democratic systems and strengthened its sovereignty. He linked the deterioration in relations to 2022, when his government refused to open a “second front” against Russia.

Paradoxically, while criticizing European dependency, Kobakhidze is actively seeking to mend ties with the United States. He has voiced hope for a “healthy reset” of the strategic partnership, particularly anticipating a potential new administration under Donald Trump. This desire for rapprochement comes even as the US, for the first time, did not join a UN Security Council statement on the 2008 war, a document signed only by EU members and the UK.

Meanwhile, as Tbilisi debates the state of European democracy, domestic reports paint a grim picture that seems to bolster the West’s concerns. Opposition media have reported a disturbing incident in the town of Dusheti, where the ruling party’s mayoral candidate allegedly abducted and assaulted a political rival on a local cemetery, demanding he withdraw from the election.

Analysts offer competing explanations for the government’s seemingly contradictory strategy. One expert suggests that the “Georgian Dream” party’s pro-EU stance is purely pragmatic, driven by the potential for financial aid and tactically deployed to appease a pro-European electorate before local elections. The rhetoric against Brussels could be quickly forgotten if the EU changes its stance, this theory holds.

A different political analyst believes the government’s actions are a deliberate provocation. According to this view, the ruling party is intentionally escalating the conflict with Europe to consolidate its authoritarian regime at home. From this perspective, sacrificing Council of Europe membership and visa-free travel is a price the government is willing to pay to secure its grip on power, prioritizing domestic control over international integration.