TBILISI, Georgia — The Prime Minister of Georgia announced on Thursday the decision to halt discussions regarding the country’s pursuit of European Union membership for a period of four years. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze attributed this suspension to what he perceived as “blackmail and manipulation” by certain politicians within the EU.

This declaration followed his reappointment by the Georgian Dream party, which was met with controversy after its recent parliamentary election victory, leading to ongoing protests and an opposition boycott of the parliamentary sessions.

The parliamentary election held on October 26 was interpreted as a critical vote reflecting Georgia’s desire to align more closely with the EU. However, the opposition party accused the ruling government of manipulating the election with the backing of Russia, which it claims seeks to maintain Georgia within its sphere of influence. As a result, they announced their intention to boycott parliamentary activities.

Observers monitoring the elections from Europe noted that the environment surrounding the voting process was fraught with tensions, pointing to various issues such as bribery, double voting, and physical altercations.

Furthermore, the European Union has previously indicated that discussions regarding Georgia’s accession have essentially been put on hold due to perceived regressions in the country’s democratic practices.