Is Georgia really committed to European values?

GEORGIA’s relationship with the European Union seems to be moving in the right direction. On July 22^nd, negotiators concluded talks over a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with the EU. Progress towards visa liberalisation continues. The chances of securing an Association Agreement at the Vilnius summit in late November look strong.

Such progress, the Georgian government insists, is based on commitment to European values such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law. As his Independence Day address on May 26^th showed, the prime minister, Bidzina Ivanishvili, is certainly keen to make the right noises in public.

But the government’s deeds have often failed to live up to its words. Take minority rights. UNM politicians (at central and Continue reading