Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze addressed an open letter to the heads of European institutions — President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council António Costa, and President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola.

“As you know, Georgia is a country founded on European values — a country where human dignity, humanism, freedom, and national identity are not merely declared principles, but values formed over centuries and deeply rooted in society.

Historically, culturally, and in terms of values, Georgia is part of the European space, while also being a candidate country for membership in the European Union, striving to become a full-fledged member of the European family. Unfortunately, as a result of decisions made by the European bureaucracy regarding Georgia, political dialogue with our country was unilaterally suspended at your initiative, after which the formats of discussion and cooperation proposed by us were repeatedly rejected. Given this situation, we are compelled to address you publicly through an open letter.

We have repeatedly noted that Georgia’s aspiration to join the European Union is not driven by a desire for formal integration. For our people, Europe is прежде всего a space of values, the civilizational choice of our ancestors, based on Christian morality, freedom, equality, respect for human rights, and democratic principles.

For us, the European Union is a common European civilizational space — a union that belongs not to any particular political figure, European leader, or Eurobureaucrat, but to the European peoples, including the Georgian people.

Against this background, as part of European civilization and a candidate country for EU membership, we have questions regarding the alarming events that took place in the very heart of Europe — in the Danish capital, Copenhagen — which, in our opinion, have nothing in common either with Europe or with European values.

Mrs. Ursula, Mr. António, Mrs. Roberta, we address you as representatives of the highest institutions of the European Union with the following question: how do you assess the violence that unfolded in the Danish capital of Copenhagen, when participants of a peaceful demonstration were first beaten with batons and then dogs were used against them?

The disturbing footage showing police brutally dispersing peaceful demonstrators clearly demonstrated to the international community an alarming reality — whereas for many years Europe was regarded as the standard of democracy, human rights, freedom of speech and expression, and other fundamental values, today the opposite trend is becoming increasingly evident. The current situation raises the danger that Europe may become not a model for the protection of these values, but an example of their neglect and gross violation.

For Georgia, as for any country committed to democratic values, both the violence we witnessed in Copenhagen and the fact that the European Union no longer protects the fundamental principles on which it was founded are categorically unacceptable.

Taking all this into account, questions naturally arise for you, including whether such violent actions are consistent with the standards of democracy and human rights to which the European Union constantly declares its commitment and toward which countries around the world aspire.

As high-ranking representatives of the European Union, where do you believe the processes linked to democratic backsliding, economic stagnation, the migration crisis, the erosion of historical memory, the weakening of national and gender identities, and the destruction of public identity are leading Europe? How did Europe — once regarded by the entire world as an example of development, freedom, and democracy — end up in such a deep crisis of values, and in general, where is this path leading the European Union?

It is a sad and alarming fact that today the European Union often ignores the natural, cultural, and historical foundations of society. There is a growing feeling that the European space is gradually moving away from the principles that made it a symbol of democracy and the protection of human rights throughout the world.

Georgia — a European country and a candidate country for membership in the European Union — expects a clear answer from you: what plan does the European Union have, in what direction are developments within the union moving, and what will be the final outcome of these alarming processes, about which not only we speak, but also the populations and political leaders of other European countries,” the open letter states.