“Radical groups do not have a problem with the Georgian government; they have a problem with the Georgian Constitution. If they wish to engage in dialogue about anything, they should focus on the issues within the Constitution and the Criminal Code, which they have repeatedly violated,” stated Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia.

According to Papuashvili, the real issue is that those who breach the Constitution and commit criminal offences are now demanding political dialogue.

“As for Lelo, they have nothing to discuss with us, nor we with them. They should instead engage with the Constitutional Court. Some of their members should be speaking with the Criminal Court, where cases against them are currently ongoing. The core problem isn’t the absence of political dialogue, but the fact that it is being demanded by those who have violated the Constitution and committed crimes,” Papuashvili explained.

For context, Lelo–Strong Georgia issued a statement, following a meeting of the party’s leadership council, emphasising the need to initiate responsible political negotiations between the Georgian Dream government and opposition parties that secured the majority support of the Georgian electorate in the 2024 parliamentary elections.

Parts of the opposition have criticised this statement by Lelo.