Irakli Kobakhidze

Last updated

In early February 2024, Kobakhidze and Irakli Garibashvili switched posts, with Garibashvili becoming the chairman of Georgian Dream and Kobakhidze being confirmed as the prime minister on 8 February. [41] [42] He outlined the government's priorities as ending the Russian occupation of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and the elimination of poverty. [43] Kobakhidze retained the same cabinet as his predecessor, but he appointed a new minister of defense. [44]

Protest held in Tbilisi against the "foreign agent" bill reintroduced by the Kobakhidze government Tbilisi - Yes to Europe, No to Russian Law 28 April 2024 (2).jpg
Protest held in Tbilisi against the "foreign agent" bill reintroduced by the Kobakhidze government

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. [45] [46] Legislation passed by his government, particularly the (June 2024 passed) "foreign agents" bill which is intended to curb western influence in the country, [46] has been widely condemned for being incompatible with the country's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. [47] [48] [49] Some analysts claimed the "foreign agents" bill may not be necessarily aimed against European integration, but rather to bargain with EU. [50]

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. [51] He also accused the Hungarian EU commissioner Olivér Várhelyi of threatening his life. [52] He later elaborated:

"However, even in the face of prolonged blackmail, the threat voiced during a telephone conversation with one of the European Commissioners was shocking. During our conversation, the European Commissioner listed a number of measures that Western politicians might take if the veto on the transparency law is overcome. While listing these measures, he mentioned, "You've seen what happened to Fico and you should be very careful."

Kobakhidze also stated his desire for an investigation into the alleged death threat. [53]

The 26 October 2024 Georgian parliamentary election was won by Georgian Dream amid allegations of fraud. [54] The conduct of the election was met with European and western condemnation. [54]

On 28 November 2024, Kobakhidze suspended Georgia's accession process to the European Union until 2028, accusing politicians in Europe and the European Parliament of engaging in "blackmail". [54] Georgia would also refuse any budgetary grant from the EU until the end of 2028. [55] According to Kobakhidze Georgia would continue to implement the reforms required for EU membership and that it still planned for Georgia to join the EU by 2030. [56] He claimed “by 2028, Georgia will be more prepared than any other candidate country to open accession talks with Brussels and become a member state in 2030.” [54]

Political positions

Foreign policy

Kobakhidze has made claims that the West is trying to push Georgia into the Russo-Ukrainian War and opening of its "second front" on the Georgian territory; his rhetoric has been described as "anti-European" and "anti-American". [5] [57] [7] 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. He attributed the desire to push Georgia into the war with Russia to the specific groups in the USA and the EU rather than the USA and EU in general, saying that the "relations will be reset" with the victory of Donald Trump in the 2024 United States presidential election. [58] [59] Kobakhidze supported "Donald Trump's goal of defeating the deep state", saying that it would positively affect the Georgia's interests. [60] In his speeches, Kobakhidze has employed the trope of the "Global War Party", a term used by the Georgian Dream officials to describe a group of entities and individuals such as American military-industrial complex, George Soros and neoconservatives, which they allege are working to instigate the wars across the world. Kobakhidze used the "Global War Party" interchangeably with the "Deep State", accusing it of instigating the conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and Syria. [61]

In February 2024, the State Security Service of Georgia claimed that it discovered Ukrainian explosives on Georgian territory. Kobakhidze used this as opportunity to repeat his allegation that Georgia is being dragged into war: "This once again confirms what, in principle, the high-ranking officials of the Ukrainian government openly said that they wanted and probably still want: a second front in our country". [62]

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. Kobakhidze said that the "certain influential forces imagine the European Union as a unity of non-sovereign, weak states, devoided of identity and values, however, in reality, the European Union can only be strong if it unites sovereign states". Kobakhidze emphasized on defending Georgia's traditional values, morality, church and faith during the European integration, remarking that "Georgia has the complete right to request that the European Union respect its sovereignty and values before entering our home". [63]

Kobakhidze has characterized the Euromaidan as a negative event, saying that the Ukraine's economic collapse, loss of territory, and other negative events directly resulted from the Euromaidan. Moreover, Kobakhidze stated that the Euromaidan resulted in the rise of foreign influence in Ukraine, with the Ukrainian authorities being "appointed from outside". [64] 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. Kobakhidze called the Rose Revolution the "revolution of spies". [65]

Internal policy

Kobakhidze represented Georgia on the Conservative Political Action Conference in Hungary in April 2024. 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". Kobakhidze also spoke of the importance of Christianity, with Georgia adopting it in the 4th century, saying that the Christianity has importantly shaped the Georgian national identity and using the slogan of the 19th century Georgian nationalist writer, Ilia Chavchavadze — "Language, Homeland, Faith". Kobakhidze warned that if the mass migration continued in the European countries, the local population would soon become a minority. He also condemned the drug legalization campaigns. [66]

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. [66] Previously, Kobakhidze held different positions on various topics. In June 2017, responding to a proposal of the Georgian Dream deputy Nukri Kantaria to include a clause in the constitution on "protection of national values and consciousness", Kobakhidze dismissed the proposal, calling it a "dangerous idea" and "nationalist ideologization". [67]

Personal life

Kobakhidze is married to Natalia Motsonelidze, with whom he has two children. [16]

Besides Georgian, Kobakhidze speaks English, German and Russian. [16]

Awards

Works

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Georgian Dream stalls parliament's investigation of US-sanctioned judges". OC Media . 20 April 2023. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  2. ↑ Avdaliani, Emil (30 May 2024). "Georgia and the West on Collision Course". CEPA.
  3. ↑ "Georgia's EU bid is being sabotaged by its own government, Brussels fears". Politico. 12 April 2024.
  4. ↑ "BREAKING: US State Department Implements First Tranche of Sanctions against Georgian Individuals". Civil.ge. 6 June 2024.
  5. 1 2 "The European Dream: Georgia's growing anti-European rhetoric undermines its pro-western aspirations". 10 March 2023. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  6. ↑ Kobakhidze reiterates claim that resetting relations with US requires end of war in Ukraine, OC Media: 29 December 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Russian Praise and Transatlantic Criticism Underline Growing Anti-Western Sentiment Among Georgia's Elite". Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "Oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili - the real ruler of Georgia and the architect of Georgia's pro-Russian shift". Transparency International . Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  9. ↑ "The oligarch behind Georgia's pivot to Russia". DW . Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  10. ↑ Sauer, Pjotr; Walker, Shaun (16 May 2024). "Bidzina Ivanishvili: Georgia's billionaire 'puppet master' betting the house on Moscow". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  11. ↑ "Georgia's Lazarus Bidzina Ivanishvili's latest political comeback and the law of diminishing returns". Meduza . Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  12. ↑ [8] [9] [10] [11]
  13. ↑ Stephen F. Jones (3 December 2024). "Are we witnessing revolution in Georgia? Pro-EU protests sweep the nation". openDemocracy . Wikidata   Q131620435. Archived from the original on 25 December 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "ირაკლი კობახიძე". Parliament of Georgia . Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Pertaia, Luca (30 January 2024). "ირაკლი კობახიძე: პროფესორი, მწერალი, "ენჯეოშნიკი", პოლიტიკოსი. პრემიერიც?". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty . Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "პარლამენტის თავმჯდომარე, ევროსაბჭოს საპარლამენტო ასამბლეის ვიცე-პრეზიდენტი, პროფესორი, არაერთი სახელმძღვანელოს ავტორი – ირაკლი კობახიძის ბიოგრაფია". gmnews.ge. 1 February 2024. Archived from the original on 11 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  17. 1 2 "Georgian Dream – Irakli Kobakhidze". Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  18. ↑ "Irakli Kobakhidze: The Georgian Dream Achieved a Convincing Victory, We Concluded These Elections With an 85 Percent Victory". Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  19. ↑ "ირაკლი კობახიძე პარლამენტის თავმჯდომარედ აირჩიეს". Tabula . 18 November 2016. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  20. ↑ "Irakli Kobakhidze Leader of the Parliamentary Majority". civil.ge. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  21. ↑ "Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine Inaugurate Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Tbilisi". Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  22. ↑ "Georgian-Polish parliament speakers sign cooperation deal". Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  23. ↑ საქართველოს პარლამენტს, პოლონეთის სეიმსა და სენატს შორის სტრატეგიული თანამშრომლობის შეთანხმება გაფორმდა Archived 20 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine (in Georgian)
  24. ↑ საქართველოს პარლამენტსა და ლატვიის სეიმს შორის მემორანდუმი გაფორმდა Archived 11 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine (in Georgian)
  25. ↑ საქართველოს პარლამენტსა და უზბეკეთის რესპუბლიკის ოლიი მაჯლისს შორის საპარლამენტთაშორისო თანამშრომლობის მემორანდუმი გაფორმდა Archived 11 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine (in Georgian)
  26. ↑ საქართველოსა და სერბეთის პარლამენტებს შორის ხელშეკრულება გაფორმდა Archived 20 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine (in Georgian)
  27. ↑ "პარლამენტის პლენარულ სხდომათა დარბაზს ზვიად გამსახურდიას სახელი მიენიჭა". Tabula. 16 April 2019. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  28. ↑ "New Constitution Enters into Force". Civil.ge. 17 December 2018.
  29. ↑ "Georgian Parliament Speaker resigns amid last night's protest around Russian MPs". Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  30. ↑ "Chairman of the Parliament – Biography". Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  31. ↑ ირაკლი კობახიძე Archived 18 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine (in Georgian)
  32. ↑ Osborn, Andrew; Balmforth, Tom (11 January 2021). "Ex-Soviet Georgia's richest citizen, ruling party chief, quits politics". Reuters. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  33. ↑ Genté, Régis (21 December 2022). "Broken Dream: The oligarch, Russia, and Georgia's drift from Europe". European Council on Foreign Relations. Crucially, throughout the last 18 months, representatives of Georgian Dream and the government have increasingly begun to make hostile statements about their Western partners. News organisation OC Media reports that, between February and July 2022, Georgian Dream chair Irakli Kobakhidze made only nine comments critical of Russia but a total of 57 negative remarks about the West and 26 about Ukraine. Georgian Dream leaders have often presented their criticism of the US and the EU in the last year as warnings against foreign interference in Georgian domestic politics. Yet the fact that they have done so in ways seemingly designed to offend suggests that they want to push representatives of Western powers to leave Georgia.
  34. ↑ "Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine: If Transnistria and Georgia engage in returning their territories, it will definitely help us". Interpressnews. 27 March 2022. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  35. ↑ "Ruling party head alleges "certain representatives" of Ukrainian Gov't want to "turn Georgia into second front" of war with Russia". Agenda.ge. 8 September 2022. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  36. ↑ "Calls for Georgia to open a "second front" against Russia fall flat". Eurasianet. 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  37. ↑ "Irakli Kobakhidze: There is a global war party that has an interest in prolonging the first front in Ukraine and opening the second front in Georgia – Georgian society must be vigilant!". Interpressnews. 31 March 2022. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  38. ↑ "Irakli Kobakhidze: There is a "global war party", whose representatives are odious MEPs – their only goal is to provoke the processes in Georgia that are happening in Ukraine". Interpressnews. 8 November 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  39. ↑ "Ruling party head vows Gov't will "do everything" to prevent country from being "dragged into war"". Agenda.ge. 5 August 2022. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  40. ↑ Krikorian, Onnik (19 December 2023). "Georgia celebrates EU candidate status". Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa.
  41. ↑ "Georgia's prime minister steps down to prepare for national elections this fall". Associated Press. 29 January 2024. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  42. ↑ "Georgia Parliament Approves West Sceptic As New PM". Barron's. 9 February 2024. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  43. ↑ "Georgian parliament names new prime minister as the ruling party gears up for elections in the fall". Associated Press. 9 February 2024. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  44. ↑ "Georgian Parliament Approves New Cabinet Led By Former Chairman Of Ruling Party". Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty. Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  45. ↑ "კობახიძის თქმით, პრემიერის რანგში მისი პირველი ვიზიტი ბრიუსელში შედგება". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (in Georgian). 8 February 2024. Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  46. 1 2 Gavin, Gabriel (1 June 2024). "'It feels like there's no future': Georgia's clash with West leaves ordinary people on brink". Politico.
  47. ↑ "NATO warned Georgia that the law on "foreign agents" is incompatible with the course for membership". ABN Correspondence. 15 May 2024. Archived from the original on 2 December 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  48. ↑ "Georgia's "transparency of foreign influence" law incompatible with democratic standards and human rights law: international human rights office ODIHR". OSCE. 30 May 2024.
  49. ↑ Tabatadze, Tamar (24 May 2024). "EU's Borrell: Georgia's 'Foreign Agents' Law incompatible with European aspirations". 1 tv.
  50. ↑ Atasuntsev, Alexander (7 May 2023). "Is Georgia's Ruling Party Really Pro-Russian?". The Moscow Times.
  51. ↑ კობახიძე: სლოვაკეთის პრემიერზე თავდასხმის უკან გლობალური ომის პარტია დგას
  52. ↑ Gavin, Gabriel (23 May 2024). "EU commissioner denies he threatened Georgia's prime minister". Politico.
  53. ↑ "კობახიძე: თუ რომელიმე ქვეყანას დააინტერესებს ინფორმაცია მუქარაზე, რომელშიც ფიცოს გვარი გაჟღერდა, მზად ვარ, გამოძიებას მივცე ინფორმაცია". Publika. 5 June 2024.
  54. 1 2 3 4 "Georgia to suspend EU accession talks until 2028". Al Jazeera. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  55. ↑ "Georgia protesters clash with police after PM suspends EU membership talks". Al Jazeera. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  56. ↑ Thomas Mackintosh (29 November 2024). "Protesters clash with police after Georgia shelves EU bid". BBC News . Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  57. ↑ Kobakhidze's anti-Western rhetoric and the Nagorno-Karabakh clashes Archived 3 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine , OC Media
  58. ↑ PM Kobakhidze names EU integration as primary foreign policy goal, 1tv.ge: December 2, 2024
  59. ↑ "PM: Our goal is to restart strategic partnership with US based on clear roadmap that delivers tangible results". 1tv.ge.
  60. ↑ "Irakli Kobakhidze: Donald Trump noted that his goal is to free US structures from the "deep state", if he does this, it will directly positively affect Georgia's interests". Interpressnews. 22 December 2024.
  61. ↑ "Georgian PM: Global War Party must be defeated". Imedi TV. 20 December 2024.
  62. ↑ Georgia accuses Ukraine of trying to spread war after explosives found at border, Reuters: February 6, 2024
  63. ↑ "PM: We want to become EU member with our independence, sovereignty, values". 1tv.ge. 29 April 2024.
  64. ↑ "No one will wait for the Maidan in Georgia: Kobakhidze made a loud statement and cynically remembered Ukraine". unn.ua. 30 May 2024.
  65. ↑ "2003 წელს მოხდა ჯაშუშების რევოლუცია, რომელმაც საქართველოს ანტიევროპული 9 წელი მოუტანა - კობახიძე". Mtavari TV . 8 March 2023.
  66. 1 2 "CPAC: PM Kobakhidze Defends Christianity, Identity from "So-Called Liberals"". Civil Georgia. 25 April 2024.
  67. ↑ "ირაკლი კობახიძე: კონსტიტუციაში ჩაწერის კუთხით მე არ მესმის ეროვნული ცნობიერების შინაარსი". Ipress. 23 June 2017.
  68. ↑ პარლამენტი: კობახიძეს ბელარუსის უნივერსიტეტის საპატიო პროფესორის წოდება მიენიჭა Archived 19 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine (in Georgian)
  69. ↑ "არჩილ თალაკვაძემ ირაკლი კობახიძე თავისუფლების საპარლამენტო ორდენით დააჯილდოვა". Radio Free. 21 February 2021. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  70. ↑ García, Jontxu (24 January 2023). "Irakli Kobakhidze: "A pesar de estar separados por miles de kilómetros, entre Georgia y Euskadi ha existido un sentimiento de conexión"". Deia . Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2024.

Notes

  1. ↑ Due to the disputed 2024 Georgian parliamentary election, Kobakhidze is no longer recognized as the legitimate Prime Minister of Georgia by all elected opposition parties, outgoing president Salome Zourabichvili, and Georgian constitutional experts.
His Excellency
Irakli Kobakhidze
ირაკლი კობახიძე
Irakli Kobakhidze 2024b (cropped).jpg
Kobakhidze in 2024
16th Prime Minister of Georgia
Disputed
Assumed office
8 February 2024 [a]
Preceded by Irakli Garibashvili
DR of Georgia
Georgian SSR
Georgia
* denotes acting
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.