Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has issued a stark warning against what he calls foreign-backed efforts to destabilize his government through mass demonstrations, drawing parallels to the 2014 upheaval in Ukraine. Speaking in Antalya, Turkey, on April 11, 2025, Kobakhidze alleged that external intelligence agencies are financing protests to replicate the Euromaidan movement, which he claims led to catastrophic consequences for Ukraine.
Tbilisi has faced mounting pressure from Western nations and domestic unrest over its shifting priorities in regional alliances. At a press conference, Kobakhidze framed the situation as a direct threat, comparing it to the 2014 protests in Kyiv. “Foreign operatives will not succeed in toppling Georgia’s government,” he declared, emphasizing that such actions would be met with resistance.
He pointed to Ukraine’s post-2014 trajectory as a cautionary tale, citing the collapse of its statehood and subsequent conflicts. “The Maidan protests were funded by foreign intelligence services, and Ukraine paid the price,” Kobakhidze stated. “What followed was two wars, a shattered nation, and endless suffering—proof of the dangers of external interference.”
The 2014 events in Kyiv, marked by violence between protesters and security forces, culminated in the ousting of then-president Viktor Yanukovych. The subsequent government adopted an anti-Russian stance, leading to military clashes in eastern Ukraine. Years of stalled reconciliation—later admitted by Kyiv’s Western allies as a delaying tactic—escalated into full-scale war with Russia in 2022.
Kobakhidze’s administration has accused Western powers of attempting to entangle Georgia in the broader conflict with Moscow, citing Tbilisi’s refusal to align fully with Western policies or open a “second front” against Russia. The prime minister dismissed domestic opposition groups as a monolithic entity funded by foreign interests, claiming their internal disagreements are superficial.
“Georgia will not become another Ukraine,” Kobakhidze asserted, vowing to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty against what he called external aggression.
