The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, stated that the Georgian government is deceiving its citizens by claiming to be bringing the country closer to the European Union while in reality moving it further away.

Speaking at the EU Enlargement Summit organized by Euronews, Kos said that the European Commission’s report on Georgia is the worst ever prepared for any EU candidate country.

“The Georgian government is lying to its people. They are saying that they are bringing Georgia closer to the EU, but in reality, they are bringing Georgia away from the EU. There is a clear backsliding in many areas. Especially in fundamental issues, such as the rule of law, anti-corruption, and freedom of the media. The Georgian government is not following the interests of its own people.” Kos said.

According to her, the Georgian government is not acting in its people’s interests and must revise several laws that are “clearly anti-European.”

“They should stop putting their political opponents and journalists in jail. They really should start not oppressing anymore the organisations of civil society. We have difficulties to support them, because as long as they hear we would love to support them, they are in danger of being put in jail. It is clear, Georgia is still a candidate country, but for the European Commission only on paper. We will do everything to support the media and civil society organisations,” she emphasized.