“Six months have passed since the parliamentary elections of October 26, 2024. Contrary to the expectations of sceptics and critics, the 11th Parliament of Georgia is fully fulfilling its duties. The boycott declared by the radical opposition has harmed no one but the opposition itself, leading them to political irrelevance,” wrote the Georgian Parliament Speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, on social media.

“Over the past months, both the Georgian state and its citizens have learned an important lesson — one that must be carefully understood and remembered. Some seek to rewrite history and bend it to serve their own agenda, but we will not allow this.

Referendum

The opposition branded the last parliamentary elections as a referendum, framing it as a choice between Europe and Russia. This narrative was launched by Salome Zourabichvili in early March 2024, with foreign and non-governmental organizations quickly drawn into the campaign. Eventually, all opposition parties and NGO leaders aligned with this vision, opposing a government that had done the most to advance Georgia’s European integration.

The Georgian government accepted the challenge. ‘Let there be a referendum,’ we said — but one where we would explain to the people what they were truly choosing between. The Georgian Dream campaign presented a clear choice: the past or the future, the threat of war or peace, discredited politicians or responsible governance, foreign dictates or national will, external influence or national identity. These opposing visions were crystallized in the radical opposition and the Georgian Dream.

Foreign Influence

What set these elections apart was the unprecedented and overt involvement of foreign actors in Georgia’s political process. Despite legal prohibitions, some diplomatic missions openly took sides, supporting the opposition and directly advocating for a change in government. As election day approached, slight hints turned into open threats — warnings of sanctions, suspension of visa liberalization, and other punitive measures if the results were not as desired. Certain controversial foreign MPs exerted heavy-handed pressure, while opposition-aligned media framed it all as a purely ‘European’ stance.

Polarization

Such interference created extreme polarization. Instead of a calm, constructive choice between parties, citizens were thrust into an apocalyptic narrative about the nation’s very survival. This artificial polarization forced the government to simultaneously conduct its campaign, defend its vision, and ensure free, fair elections.

Until October 27, there were no serious complaints regarding the CEC’s work or the use of new electronic counting machines. Observers, opposition representatives, and all stakeholders assessed the process positively. Up until October 26, the ‘playing field’ was widely seen as fair.

People’s Choice

Georgian Dream’s campaign message — the imperative to avoid war — was validated by foreign efforts to influence the election and force a change of government. These efforts relied on a false assumption: that Georgians could be swayed by empty promises and would abandon their national interests. Yet the Georgian people — heirs to a three-thousand-year-old state tradition — proved resilient.

The promise of carrots was accompanied by the stick of threatened sanctions. Nevertheless, the vast majority of the population made the right choice, voting for Georgia’s national interests, preserving peace amid the Great War, and safeguarding the economy. This significant turn of events was a resounding slap in the face to those who wished ill upon our homeland, and the repercussions soon followed. The unrealistic expectations of foreign powers gave way to disappointment, which ultimately evolved into anger.

Blackmail

In the October 26 elections, the opposition successfully crossed the threshold, securing 38% of the vote—a notable achievement for the referendum campaign. This result should have strengthened the opposition, providing a solid foundation for future political activities and motivating continued engagement within the constitutional framework. However, it quickly became evident that foreign patrons were focused solely on achieving a change of government. Two days after the elections, the opposition received clear instructions: find and gather evidence of electoral fraud. We remember the desperate efforts that followed—claims of 300,000 phantom votes and fabricated stories of a ‘leak.’

Salome Zourabichvili directly encouraged the opposition to declare a boycott and resort to disobedience. Another phase of blackmail began, resembling tactics seen after the 2020 elections. Despite the absence of public protest, the lack of evidence of fraud, and the smooth opening of the new parliament, they persisted with the narrative of non-recognition.

We witnessed a coordinated effort of foreign pressure: diplomatic silence, support for the opposition, calls for boycotts, and attempts to destabilize the constitutional order, all designed to manufacture a crisis that would eventually force concessions based on falsehoods.

November 28

Two days after the 11th Parliament convened, facing diplomatic hostility from a dissatisfied foreign power, the Georgian government firmly rejected blackmail. It was clear that Georgia’s policies would not be dictated by external actors and that attempts to provoke unrest through refusal to deliver promised ‘benefits,’ internal agitation, and other pressure tactics would not succeed.

Supported by the majority’s will, the Georgian Dream responded decisively to foreign interference. We reaffirmed our commitment to the Association Agreement and our goal to meet EU membership criteria by 2028 while refusing to turn intermediate negotiations into bargaining chips. This principled stance provoked further protests in Tbilisi, fueled by foreign discontent.

Confrontation

The victory of Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election in early November further inflamed the anger of the outgoing administration. Before the inauguration of the new president, the outgoing leadership gave full approval for protests and attempts at another “colour revolution” in Tbilisi. Georgian law enforcement worked tirelessly to maintain order, protect public safety, and defend the Parliament building from assaults on Rustaveli Avenue. Many demonstrators and officers were injured during these violent clashes.

We also remember how certain diplomats, who had previously spoken loudly before the elections, remained conspicuously silent during the unrest. Inspired by these diplomats, aggressive demonstrators acted with impunity. Rather than discouraging the opposition’s false narrative, some in the diplomatic corps effectively encouraged it. For the first time in Georgian history, a demonstrator threw a Molotov cocktail at a law enforcement officer, setting him on fire, and was later hailed as a hero by the opposition. As a result, Rustaveli Avenue witnessed literal firefights.

The Failure of Propaganda

In a complete surprise to many, President Donald Trump publicly announced the end of a harmful practice employed by the American government in the international arena through USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which had been dubbed “soft power.” The new administration’s distinct approach to international trade, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and genuine American interests have starkly challenged globalist forces and warring factions.

President Trump made significant efforts to establish a ceasefire and peace in Ukraine, although resistance remains. He disbanded USAID as an institution that undermined American long-term interests and initiated a process to ensure transparency in the foreign funding of American higher education institutions. The removal of USAID as a major donor from the international arena, including in Georgia, compelled other funding sources to at least partially offset the dollars that had vanished, replaced with euros.

It is precisely this diminished protest that we observe today, still struggling to gain traction with a bankrupt agenda. This unfolding process is intriguing as it reveals the emerging structures and mechanisms of American interests. The new administration is effectively dismantling the so-called “deep state,” which will lead to non-interference in the domestic politics of other nations, whether through soft or hard power. This shift could foster consideration of the partners’ interests. However, it may result in the elimination of only discredited and bankrupt instruments, while in return, we will receive mechanisms of influence aimed at similar objectives, albeit in a transformed guise.

Victory

Six months after the elections, the Georgian Dream party has successfully restored public confidence in the prospect of victory. It has clearly demonstrated, not only to its supporters but also to the opposition electorate, that:

• The Georgian Dream Party solely serves Georgia and its national interests.
• Opaque foreign funding caters to external agendas and foreign interests.
• The threat of war is real; even the will of the U.S. President can struggle to counter the plans of those who seek conflict.
• The Georgian opposition is beholden to external instructions, rendering the legitimacy of the people meaningless.
• The only guarantee of stability, security, and development in the country is a responsible government—the Georgian Dream.

In light of the evolving international landscape, the government has compelled its opponent partners to account for its fair, legal, and nationally focused demands. Meetings have commenced, signs of dialogue have emerged, and efforts by hostile external groups to isolate Georgia and intimidate it with sanctions have failed.

Georgia remains firmly within the Western orbit, with its doors wide open. It is committed to a 30-year strategic partnership with its allies and is ready to usher in a new chapter.

The ultimate consolidation of these achievements and victory will occur in the upcoming elections this fall. It is essential that the public accurately evaluates parties whose members are influenced by foreign powers and cast their votes for those that genuinely align with Georgian national interests. Differences among parties should reflect pressing issues within the state, free from external interference. Although this process is not yet complete, the self-government elections will mark a significant milestone on the path to strengthening our independence.

Objective

The Georgian Dream fully acknowledges its responsibility and commitment to the nation, its history, present, and future. This consciousness defines and sets us apart from our power-hungry, revenge-driven, and short-sighted opponents.

We recognize the profound trust placed in us to govern a country steeped in a three-thousand-year-old state tradition, a burden we carry with great seriousness. In this light, the lamentable state of our recent past stands out: our homeland, once reduced to a mere pawn and battleground for foreign interests by an adventurist government, has been forced to contend with an ocean of mistakes—each mistake leaving a mark on our history and costing countless lives. Against this backdrop of hardship and loss, the attempts of the Georgian Dream to guide our nation and our people over this treacherous bridge toward a hopeful future deserve commendation, caution, and humility.

Effective management, knowledge, wisdom, and experience are essential tools in this endeavour, yet the cornerstone is an unconditional love for our homeland. The Georgian Dream endeavours to embody this love in partnership with the people, who discern and feel where the truth resides. This unity reflects our profound, 3,000-year-old wisdom, which has seen us through centuries of confrontation with forces driven by global interests, bringing us to this moment. The struggle against these forces is as ancient as our statehood itself. We aim to achieve victory in this epic confrontation, just as our wise ancestors did.

Our immediate goal is, of course, to prevail in the upcoming local elections. The global deep state, which exerts the most significant influence over nations and corporations, manages its interests within the developed world through coordinated efforts. Regrettably, the Georgian opposition has become a blind instrument of this foreign agenda, opposing the authentic, indigenous Georgian experience.

We will once again triumph in this struggle and turn a new page for Georgia,” writes Shalva Papuashvili.