Domestic Reactions to Irakli Kobakhidze’s Open Letter to President Trump

On May 13, Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has addressed an open letter to U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance amid the unprecedented international isolation facing his government, brought on by democratic backsliding, repression, anti-Western rhetoric, and a reversal on EU integration. The letter comes ahead of the anticipated debate in the U.S. Senate on the MEGOBARI Act, which passed the House of Representatives last week with broad bipartisan support. Kobakhidze sharply criticizes the legislation—which targets Georgian Dream officials—calling it an “absurd law” and “hostile” toward what he describes as “the Georgian people and the government they democratically elected.” Written in a tone of frustration, the letter conveys the government’s grievance that its attempts to reset relations with the U.S. “from a clean slate” have gone ignored.

The letter has sparked considerable reaction. Civil.ge has compiled a selection of remarks from both Georgian Dream officials and opposition figures.

Georgian Dream MPs

Mamuka Mdinaradze, GD Majority leader: “It’s very good and I am proud that we, our country, can speak today in such a bold tone….We are interested to know why is it that although we and the current US administration have coinciding attitudes, stances and messages…nevertheless, not a single word has been uttered about Georgia by the newly elected president and administration…. We are not bowing down or begging anyone, but we are speaking loudly, boldly and in the appropriate tone that we are right in our own society and also in our relations with all partners. If we are treated unjustly by the other side, at least in the form of silence, we now have the ability to speak about it openly and boldly – first behind the scenes, and then publicly”.”

Eka Sepashvili, Member of GD Parliament, People’s Power: “It seems that additional measures are needed to make the relationship more positive than what Levan Davitashvili’s [Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy] visit brought… We hope that this situation will improve. It seems that the Deep State is stronger than even Trump thought and even than we thought.”

President Zurabishvili

Salome Zurabishvili, President of Georgia: “The government’s complete despair is visible here. This is probably the result of the fact that Bidzina Ivanishvili has not been able to sort out anything, and will not be able to sort out anything. He will not be able to sort out the consequences of the “MEGOBARI Act” and it is clear that there is a lot of nervousness in the ranks of the Georgian Dream. This letter is a manifestation of this. I am very curious if the US president will ever read this. …But whoever reads it, it is very sad, because … it will be astounding to them. A letter from a country that America has been helping in every way and for for more than 30 years will be shocking… This is an indicator of the moral and political collapse of this government, and this is what we should see today.”

Opposition Figures

Mamuka Khazaradze, one of the leaders of Strong Georgia: “Bidzina’s “dream” is in agony, he is making Kobakhidze write open letters, since Orban was unlucky and no one met the so-called Vice Prime Minister in America. If there is a “deep state” anywhere, it is Bidzina and his puppets, in the full sense of the word. It turns out that the American “deep state” is being fought by Bidzina, who has hijacked all the democratic institutions of the country, has stolen the elections and is ruling the country with a communist, massively corrupt system. This insanity in the country will end soon, you have not been able to sort it out and you will not be able to sort it out with anyone! You have isolated the country and deprived it of development prospects. New elections and the release of political prisoners – this is the only way to political reset.”

Khatia Dekanoidze, one of the leaders of Unity-UNM: “The [existence] of the letter, as it turned out, was not known to many [of the GD members] and it is probably [a product of] Ivanishvili’s madness, written by Kobakhidze. They realize that entering into an open war with the Americans will be very difficult for the Georgian Dream, and at the same time, publicly cuddling with Putin (which the Russians will definitely demand) has a high price, according to Gavrilov’s experience…”

Dimitri Tskitishvili, one of the leaders of Gakharia for Georgia: “I think this letter is clearly for the domestic audience, not for the Georgian audience in general, but for the supporters of the Georgian Dream, and this is… to create some legitimacy to start distancing themselves from the United States. In reality, they see and know that they would not be able to resolve the situation with the new administration of the United States… on the terms they want… The Georgian Dream is not ready for these terms, whatever the United States is offering, therefore they need some argumentation to start distancing themselves.”

Nika Gvaramia, one of the leaders of Coalition for Change: “These people [Georgian Dream Administration] pose a threat to the country. This [open letter] is not directed at President Trump, this is a position towards the entire civilized West. These people must leave, they must go under any circumstances, by any means. Otherwise, our homeland cannot survive. The “MEGOBARI Act” tells us something simple, that’s what the US presidential administration told Davitashvili, who is the first vice-prime minister, “You know what you have to do.” This is new fair elections and release of political prisoners.”

Resistance Platform Statement

“We, the ‘Resistance Platform,’ say: Georgia is not a hostage of Ivanishvili and his illegitimate group. The future, protection, and security of Georgia are tied to a strong Europe, a strong America. Leaving our country alone and unprotected serves the interest of the enemy. Kobakhidze’s letter does not represent the will of the Georgian people. It represents the interest of a small group that has usurped power and is trying to survive in isolation from the democratic world. We reject the conspiracies, false accusations, and anti-Western campaign that the regime is carrying out in a coordinated manner. Our goal is to prevent the deterioration of relations with the U.S. and our European friends, so that the Georgian people can return without obstacles to their future without alternative, to the development perspective- which is linked to EU membership and strategic partnership with the U.S. […] We will not allow anyone to destroy the trust and friendship with America that has been built over decades. There is only one peaceful way out of this crisis, which has been deliberately created by the regime – new, free, and fair parliamentary elections and the release of prisoners of conscience.”

More to follow…

Also Read:

• 07/05/2025 – Political Reactions in Georgia to MEGOBARI Act

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