Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze strongly criticized the United States and European countries for failing to condemn what he described as an “attempted power seizure” in the capital Tbilisi on October 4, saying their silence could be seen as a form of indirect support for those involved.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Kobakhidze said, “Over the past days, not a single organization or state — including the United States, the European Union, and certain EU member countries — that claim to comment on or advise Georgia about its internal affairs, have condemned the attempt to overthrow the elected government or the violent assault on the presidential palace.”

He went on to accuse some Western institutions, such as the EU, OSCE/ODIHR, and others, of issuing statements “in the opposite direction,” adding that their refusal to denounce the events amounted to tacit approval.

“Failing to condemn an attempt to seize power and resorting to violence can naturally be interpreted as an indirect yet clear expression of support for the coup attempt,” the Georgian Prime Minister said.

Kobakhidze stressed that from now on, the opinions of states and organizations that show open discomfort toward the will and unity of the Georgian people will carry no value — neither now nor in the future.

October 4 unrest and arrests

The unrest took place on October 4, the day of local elections, when opposition groups staged a large rally in Tbilisi. During the protest, organizers publicly declared that “power would be taken back” and urged supporters to “take the keys of the presidential palace.”

A group of demonstrators then marched toward the presidential residence, broke through police barricades, and clashed with security forces. Riot police responded with tear gas and water cannons, dispersing the crowd.

Authorities said five organizers of the rally were arrested on charges of “incitement to overthrow the government and organizing mass violence.” Thirteen additional protesters were detained, and arrest warrants were issued for two more individuals identified from video footage.

Western reactions draw criticism

While the European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos issued a joint statement the same day criticizing the Georgian government over the “opposition crackdown” during the local elections, they made no reference to the attack on the presidential palace.

Similarly, the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) released a separate report condemning the Georgian authorities but made no mention of the violent incidents against state institutions.

The Georgian government has viewed this selective silence from Western allies as part of a broader pattern of political bias, claiming that Western statements are increasingly detached from the realities on the ground.

Analysts in Georgian and regional media suggest that Tbilisi’s criticism marks a growing rift between Georgia and its traditional Western partners, especially as the ruling Georgian Dream party continues to promote what it calls an “independent and sovereign” foreign policy stance.(ILKHA)