Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze was reportedly disinvited from a reception hosted by US President Joe Biden during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday.
Kobakhidze was scheduled to address the UNGA on Thursday and had originally been invited to the event.
Kobakhidze’s invitation was revoked due to what US officials described as the Georgian government’s “anti-democratic actions, disinformation, and negative rhetoric towards the US and the West,” according to the US Embassy in Tbilisi.
Georgian officials confirmed that the US also declined all meetings with the Georgian delegation. Georgian parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili condemned the move, calling it “frivolous.”
The relationship between Georgia and Western powers has strained in recent months, largely due to accusations of authoritarianism and pro-Russian policies from the ruling Georgian Dream party, which is seen as being influenced by billionaire ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, according to Reuters news agency.
A “foreign agents” law was passed by the party earlier this year, drawing sharp criticism from Western countries for its similarity to Russian legislation, which is claimed to be used to suppress dissent.
Georgian Dream Party is preparing for a parliamentary election in October. Senior Georgian Dream MP Mamuka Mdinaradze accused Biden of trying to support the opposition, claiming the disinvitation was politically motivated. Meanwhile, the European Union has warned it may suspend Georgia’s visa-free regime if the upcoming election is not conducted fairly and peacefully.