Tbilisi Mayor: We seek only friendly, partner-led relations with Europe, free from patronising condescension over sanctions or demands to open a second front

“It is vital that relations between Georgia and the European Union are turned over to a clean slate,” Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze told journalists on Monday.

Kaladze made the remarks in response to a joint appeal by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) party and the European Liberal Forum, which called for targeted sanctions to be imposed on senior Georgian Dream officials.

“Regarding the restoration of EU ties, we speak openly that it is essential to start relations on a fresh page. Engagement with the Georgian state must be grounded in truth and fairness, not in someone looking down on us from above or growing enraged because our country refused to join European sanctions and self-harm its economy, or because we ignored threats demanding the opening of a second front. We want a purely friendly, equal partnership,” Kaladze stated.

The Mayor added that individuals demanding personal sanctions against Georgian government representatives display an inherently hostile posture towards the Georgian public.

“The rhetoric from these figures is thoroughly saturated with falsehoods. For instance, when they opposed our legislative amendments on transparency, we repeatedly asked them to present concrete arguments, but they failed to do so. They have no arguments; they are simply executing instructions issued against our nation. As for personal sanctions, that is their decision; no one will intimidate us with such measures. The paramount objective remains pursuing a policy that preserves peace and secures Georgia’s economic development,” Kaladze continued.