“Amid recent events, the primary message for our people—that Georgia will become a member of the EU with dignity, peace, and prosperity—is being drowned out by the cacophony of violent protests,” stated Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili during a briefing.
According to the Speaker, this message distinguishes the government’s foreign policy from the opposition’s misleading emotional and disruptive campaign.
The Speaker emphasized that in the past week, the Georgian populace has not heard any rational proposals on how to facilitate the country’s EU accession without compromising national interests, security, and economic prosperity.
Shalva Papuashvili further remarked that opposition media outlets are merely echoing “pathetic calls from biased European politicians,” while European institutions draft resolutions advocating for the release of Mikheil Saakashvili (the imprisoned former president) or the acquittal of Davit Kezerashvili (the former defence minister).
“The picture is clear. We choose the Strasbourg Court, which has scrutinized the judgments of the Georgian judiciary on numerous occasions. We favour assessments that are impartially conducted by the OSCE mission regarding parliamentary elections, while our opponents dismiss everything, label truth as lies, and ardently support any intentions that undermine our country,” he asserted.
The Speaker commended Georgian voters who supported the Georgian Dream party, pledging not to betray their expectations and trust. He stated that Georgian Dream is committed to persuading opposition voters of the truth and the “irresponsible actions” taken by the parties they elected.
“The vast majority of the population has opted for peace, stability, a European future, and the nation’s development. Regrettably, revanchist and radical forces are not only betraying the trust of the country and the state but also letting down their voters. In recent days, we have witnessed desperate attempts to destabilize the nation; however, such plans have failed and will never succeed.
We believe sufficient time has elapsed, and significant events have occurred for emotions to subside. Life should return to its normal course, and political parties and their supporters must return to the constitutional framework.
The ongoing protests lack substance. We have not heard any articulate speeches; the protesters have avoided substantive debate, preferring to express themselves through noise. They protest against something that does not exist. No one has been able to identify any specific requests or legitimate factors that the EU offers but the government rejects them. Everyone knows that the possibility of EU membership is projected for 2030, and our plan aims to meet this timeline. The initiation of negotiations lies within the hands of European structures. Georgia deserves to embark on this process and is fully prepared to do so; if talks are opened, we will accept, sign, and fulfil our responsibilities,” he stated.
Shalva Papuashvili explained that artificial barriers have been erected on Georgia’s path to European integration; some foreign actors are “disappointed by the outcomes of Georgian elections and unwilling to acknowledge the choices of the Georgian people.”
In the Speaker’s view, this situation “reinforces the suspicion that certain actors wish to restore the National Movement’s regime and are, therefore, attempting to undermine the will of the Georgian populace.”
“However, this plan is destined to fail. Elections were held in Georgia; every party received the number of votes they earned. Georgia is a member of the European family, and it deserves to be treated with respect, dignity, and equality. As a nation with a rich European culture, we continue our civilized efforts toward development and progress,” he affirmed.
The Parliament Speaker addressed the police measures enacted during the protests, asserting that freedom of expression and peaceful demonstrations are not being curtailed; rather, the police resort to special measures when protesters and violent groups engage in assaults against law enforcement, deploy pyrotechnics, hurl Molotov cocktails, and damage infrastructure.
According to the Speaker, the prolonged violent protests were orchestrated and instigated by radical political parties.
“Recent days have demonstrated that, despite the organization and motivation of aggressive groups by well-trained activists, this wave of demonstrations cannot attain its goal of orchestrating a coup, revolution, or sabotage within the country. Therefore, the only rational alternative remains on the table: everyone should return to the bounds of the state and constitutional framework, renounce futile attacks and aggression that harm citizens, and allow them to resume their normal activities.
Instead of calling for strikes or submitting petitions, which will achieve nothing beyond self-lustration of the system, these groups should publicly acknowledge whom they supported in the elections and demand that their chosen parties take responsibility for the future of the country,” he concluded.
Shalva Papuashvili closed by stating that amid global tensions and escalating crises, Georgia must navigate this challenging period with peace and determination, with the parliament tasked to approve the budget for the coming year, elect a new president, and ensure that all these actions are carried out “methodically and consistently.”
