Georgian Dream Deliberately Endangering Visa Liberalization; Ivanishvili is Meting Out Penalty on Four Million Citizens (According to Sanikidze)
In a series of assertions, Levan Sanikidze, leader of the opposition United National Movement, has accused the ruling Georgian Dream party and its founder Bidzina Ivanishvili of deliberately sabotaging Georgia's visa-free travel agreement with the European Union and hindering the country's Euro-Atlantic integration.
Sanikidze claims that Georgian Dream is actively working against Georgia’s European aspirations, engaging in corrupt practices, political vendettas, and undermining democratic processes. This, he argues, damages relations with the EU and stalls integration efforts.
During protests in Tbilisi, Sanikidze stated that Georgian Dream would "do anything on Georgian side to lose EU, to say no to European path," positioning the opposition struggle as one against the ruling regime to preserve Georgia’s pro-European direction. He also highlighted that Georgian Dream uses anti-corruption as a tool for internal power redistribution rather than genuine reform, implicating Ivanishvili and other top figures in the misuse of state resources and political manipulation.
Sanikidze's accusations tie the sabotage of Georgia’s visa liberalization and Euro-Atlantic integration to systemic corruption and alleged collusion with Russia. The ruling party is accused of electoral fraud and undermining democratic norms, which have dented Georgia’s international standing. The political crackdown following disputed elections, widely criticized in Europe, reflects the broader antagonism toward Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic future.
The EU has previously declared that Georgia's government will not be seen as legitimate unless it conducts fair elections and releases political prisoners, according to Sanikidze. The US State Department's 2024 human rights report on Georgia strongly condemns the current regime, as per Sanikidze, adding weight to his claims.
Sanikidze believes that losing visa-free access to Europe would be a devastating consequence of the government's actions. He also accuses Ivanishvili of using strategic projects and regional influence to manipulate the narrative. Furthermore, he claims that Ivanishvili is effectively "sanctioning" the entire Georgian population.
In a positive note, Sanikidze expects the MEGOBARI Act to be passed early this fall, which he believes will show solidarity with the Georgian people and potentially weaken Georgian Dream's pro-Russian regime. However, whether these accusations will lead to tangible changes in Georgia's political landscape remains to be seen.
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