“When there is a fair attitude and assessment, everything is in the palm of your hand – Georgia is ahead, taking concrete steps, implementing reforms, and we have seen the results. We are ahead of many EU member states, let alone candidate countries,” Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze stated.

He made the remarks when asked about the Well-Functioning Government Index published by the European Commission as part of the Positive Peace 2024 Report, which ranked Georgia’s government 38th among the 40 best in the world.

According to him, despite Georgia’s progress, assessments from some European officials are often unfair.

“Once political narratives are introduced by certain European bureaucrats, biased assessments immediately follow. These evaluations are often based on lies, slander, and misinformation. The sad reality is that double standards are very common. The main reason is twofold: Georgia did not enter the war and open a second front, and the country did not join financial sanctions that would have been disastrous for our economy,” he noted.

According to Kaladze, peace remains the government’s top priority.

“I will not begin to explain what war would bring to our country. Ukraine is a ‘good’ example of this – destroyed cities, lost territories, ruined infrastructure, countless victims. Despite ongoing threats, there is no alternative to peace, and we will definitely maintain it with our policy,” he said.

Responding to questions about a possible suspension of Georgia’s visa-free regime with the EU, Kaladze said Georgia’s interest in visa liberalization remains unchanged.

“The attempts to punish the Georgian people and state continue, but our interest in visa liberalization has not and cannot change. Responsibility for slanderous statements lies with European bureaucrats. They pursue their own interests, while we must protect ours. Georgia is our homeland, and we will not accept destructive external demands,” Kaladze stated.

Commenting on the European Commission’s recommendations, Kaladze criticized them as unjust.

“Do these demands have substance? They are based on lies and injustice. Which political prisoners are you talking about – those who were throwing Molotov cocktails and stones at police? When you are a criminal, age does not matter. Portraying such people as heroes is a distortion of reality,” Kaladze said.