On 16 January, leading members of the European Parliament issued a joint statement expressing their "deep concern" at the worsening political crisis in Georgia, citing an attack on Giorgi Gakharia, former Prime Minister and leader of the opposition party For Georgia, in Batumi.
The MEPs, including David McAllister and Rasa Juknevičienė, described the attack as "yet another example of escalating violence" under the Georgian Dream government. The statement read: 'We are shocked by the news that former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia was violently assaulted in a hotel in Batumi and subsequently treated in hospital,' adding that the incident highlighted the increasing violence against peaceful protesters and dissidents orchestrated by Georgian Dream and its allies.

In his remarks, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze addressed the conflict between Giorgi Gakharia, leader of the opposition For Georgia party and former prime minister, and a Georgian Dream MP. Kobakhidze stated that "Gakharia started the conflict because he couldn't tolerate the revelation when he was told about espionage and links with the United National Movement party, which didn't go unanswered", and further emphasised his perspective on tolerance in politics, stating that "They often talk about the duty of politicians to tolerate, I don't know how it is for politicians, I have my own opinion about it, but if you are a 'national' and if you are a spy, you are really obliged to tolerate".

MEPs expressed support for President Salome Zourabichvili, describing her as "the only clear legitimate representative of the will of the Georgian people". They urged the EU and its member states to consider imposing personal sanctions on key figures, including Bidzina Ivanishvili and Irakli Kobakhidze, whom they held responsible for Georgia's democratic backsliding. They also recommended suspending the EU-Georgia Association Council to avoid legitimising the Georgian Dream government.