“Non-governmental organizations and opposition political parties have raised concerns regarding ID cards. However, when asked to substantiate their claims, they often assert that it is the state’s responsibility to provide evidence,” stated Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili during a briefing.

Papuashvili argued that there is a coordinated effort among opposition parties to create fabricated reports to justify a coup in Georgia.

“Both NGOs and the opposition have embarked on this well-trodden path. Since October 20, they have effectively merged into a singular political entity reminiscent of the National Movement. The tactics they are employing regarding ID cards mirror those used in previous elections in 2018, 2020, and 2021.

In 2018, organizations such as Transparency International, GYLA, and ISFED disseminated misinformation about ID card production. When it came time for investigation, these organizations refused to cooperate, as they had no evidence,” the Speaker explained.

Papuashvili further noted that similar tactics were evident in 2020 and 2021, where so-called observers sought to incite panic at polling stations.

“On election day in 2021, we were compelled to hold hourly briefings to counter misinformation about fake IDs. Now, we observe this same behaviour from NGOs and other political parties, who continue to raise concerns about ID cards.

Recently, I witnessed a representative from a non-governmental organization state that gathering evidence is not their concern, but rather the state’s responsibility. These fabricated reports are strategically designed to provoke unrest and lay the groundwork for a political coup in Georgia,” he concluded.