“Independence is a continuous process—a daily struggle that never ends. If we want to avoid being enslaved by foreign forces, if we truly desire independence, sovereignty, then we must understand what these values truly mean,” the Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili wrote on social media as he congratulated the public on Georgia’s Independence Day.

Papuashvili emphasises that independence is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing effort.

“This day belongs to us! Independence is a process—a daily struggle that never stops. We must fight, work, and grow as long as we live. To stop is to fail, to lose, even to die.

If we do not want to be enslaved by others, if we seek true independence and sovereignty, if we want to be our own masters, we must understand what that entails. We must know the value of freedom, the meaning of independence, the significance of our flag, our coat of arms, and our state. We must learn to follow our own path rather than yield to foreign dictates.

Freedom and independence are intrinsic values and fundamental human needs. Everything else is external and imposed. There is what is ours, and there is what belongs to others. We must be able to distinguish between the two. That very ability—to differentiate between what is ours and what is not—is the essence of patriotism. That is why this day is ours. Congratulations on May 26—Georgia’s Day of Independence and Freedom!” wrote Shalva Papuashvili.