“A letter signed by the Foreign Ministers of 17 EU countries and the EU High Representative has been circulated, which, represents yet another harsh and unjust attack on the Georgian people and democracy,” the Political Council of the ruling Georgian Dream party issued a statement.

The party claims the letter is “filled with Soviet-style disinformation and false accusations,” urging the signatories to show more responsibility in their public statements.

According to the statement, the latest wave of criticism stems from October 26, when, the party alleges, the Georgian people prevented the return to power of the “Deep State’s agency,” referring to the United National Movement (UNM), which they say is openly supported by certain EU and former U.S. officials.

“The legitimacy of the parliamentary elections is undeniable,” the statement says, citing OSCE/ODIHR assessments and the OSCE Secretary General’s recent comment that the 2024 elections reflected the will of the Georgian people. “European officials are not unhappy with the conduct of elections, but with their outcome.”

“One of the disinformation claims made by 18 European officials concerns the arrest of radical politicians, which they describe as “politically motivated” and aimed at “suppressing political opposition” ahead of the local elections.

First, it is important to clarify that among those arrested, only Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze were planning or are planning to participate in the local elections. We also remind the signatory officials that the law under which these individuals were sentenced was adopted in Georgia three decades ago and aligns fully with European legal standards and practices. The relevant criminal cases are straightforward and transparent.

The individuals in question failed to appear before a parliamentary investigative commission, a violation that, under Georgian legislation, carries a penalty of up to one year in prison. For this offense, they were sentenced to 7–8 months of imprisonment. Those who complied and appeared before the commission faced no punishment.

Furthermore, in the context of the upcoming elections, President Mikheil Kavelashvili publicly declared his willingness to pardon any politician who wished to participate in the elections and formally appealed to him. Despite this opportunity, the radical politicians refused to engage with the state institution, a move that has regrettably been met with tacit approval by European officials,” the statement said.

As stated in the Georgian Dream Political Council’s statement, the letter includes yet another false claim, alleging that the activists are “unjustly detained.”

“This statement is yet another clear indication that the attempted overthrow of the government in November-December of last year—and the violent actions of protesters—were supported from external sources. It is well remembered that this attempt to violently disrupt Georgia’s constitutional order received opaque funding from organizations such as USAID, NED, EED, and others, and was openly endorsed by certain European and former American officials. These same actors mischaracterized blatant violence as “peaceful protest,” a claim that even Soviet-era propaganda would have struggled to make.

As is widely known, all legal proceedings related to these violent incidents have been conducted with full transparency. We also remind the authors of the recent letter—rife with misinformation—that out of several hundred individuals involved in violent acts, only about 30 have been detained, underscoring the high standards observed in the investigation. Furthermore, in countries such as the UK, Germany, France, Sweden, and Spain, assaulting a police officer carries severe legal consequences, often resulting in sentences of five to eight years.

Regarding allegations of political persecution, it is worth highlighting that if such actions have taken on a truly political nature anywhere, it is in Germany and France. The prosecution of key opposition parties and leaders in these countries casts serious doubt on their moral authority to speak on this matter. Let us not forget the unprecedented case in Romania, where a presidential candidate who won the first round of elections not only had the results annulled but was subsequently targeted with criminal charges and barred from running again. The European bureaucracy’s support for such actions stands in stark contrast to the democratic values it claims to uphold and reflects an unjustified disdain toward Georgia’s democratic development.

Particularly concerning is the directive in the letter, which calls for the repeal of what it describes as “repressive laws.” These are, in fact, legal measures designed to prevent external interference in Georgia’s sovereign affairs and to protect the integrity of state institutions. All of these laws comply with international legal norms and standards. Demanding, without reasoned justification, that the Georgian Parliament overturn legitimate legislation is a direct affront to parliamentary sovereignty and a grave insult to the will of the Georgian people.

This letter from 18 European officials once again reveals how entrenched informal “deep state” governance has become in many EU countries and the UK. It appears that moral boundaries within parts of the European bureaucracy have eroded. A pattern has emerged: if a country is not under the influence of these informal structures, it becomes a target of coordinated attacks. What Georgia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia are seemingly punished for is their desire to maintain independence and uphold national sovereignty.

There is also growing suspicion that the separation of the UK from the EU—Brexit—was influenced by these same forces to create a third power center that could more effectively advance the “deep state’s” global agenda. The former UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss, has publicly acknowledged the dominance of the “deep state” within Britain. We hope that U.S. President Donald Trump will be able to fulfill his promise to dismantle this structure, which may, in turn, help restore sovereignty to both Europe and Georgia. Today, the epicenter of this influence seems to have shifted from the U.S. to Europe. Unless the “deep state” is not only exposed but decisively defeated rather than rebranded, the weakening of Europe and ongoing attacks on the Georgian people and their democracy will persist. We wish Donald Trump success in this vital mission,” it reads.

The statement notes that “Today, Europe is facing a democratic decline and a crisis with profound consequences.”

“A majority of European states are increasingly influenced by entrenched ‘deep state’ structures. Uncontrolled migration, pseudo-liberal propaganda, and the erosion of state and religious institutions are contributing to the rapid loss of European identity. The refusal to recognize the electoral victories of politically undesirable parties and candidates, the cancellation of elections, political persecution of opposition figures, and the widespread restriction of media freedom have become commonplace across Europe.

In this context, neither the absurd resolutions of the European Parliament, nor the disinformation-filled letter signed by 18 European officials, nor their sanctions and other forms of pressure on the Georgian people come as a surprise.

We have no intention of attacking anyone, but we will not make any promises that we will stand idle in defending our country, its sovereignty, identity, and the interests of the Georgian people. We will not make compromises in this struggle.

At the same time, we reaffirm our full readiness to cooperate with any country that seeks a fair and respectful partnership with Georgia. It is essential for all to recognize that just as Georgia needs Europe, the European Union equally needs Georgia,” it concludes.

The British Embassy in Georgia released a joint statement of Foreign Ministers from 17 countries and the EU High Representative on the recent developments in Georgia on July 12.