“We refused to escalate the situation or impose bilateral sanctions, which would have harmed our country. This is why some in Europe are frustrated or offended with Georgia,” said Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, in remarks to Georgian journalists in Tashkent.

According to Papuashvili, the Georgian delegation addressed this issue during a meeting with the Speakers of both chambers of the Belgian Parliament. He also highlighted the involvement of certain European politicians and government representatives in the Georgian elections.

“We discussed Georgia-Belgium relations and expressed our gratitude for the contribution of Belgian citizens to the EU Monitoring Mission in the occupied territories. Naturally, we also addressed Georgia-EU relations. They inquired about the sources of the current tension, and we explained the situation over the past three years,” said Papuashvili.

According to him, after the war in Ukraine began, some European political groups and countries held unrealistic expectations that Georgia would escalate tensions despite having previously recommended a policy of peace.

“Because we refused to escalate, they imposed bilateral sanctions and closed borders and airspace. Our country has suffered as a result, and unfortunately, some in Europe have shown indifference or even anger. We also discussed how certain European politicians, including Baltic ministers, actively participated in Georgia’s elections, even attending opposition rallies,” Papuashvili added.

He emphasized that cooperation between the parliaments remains strong and noted that the Georgian side made it clear that without security or economic guarantees, it would be irresponsible to impose demands that could jeopardize national interests.

“Today, it is evident to everyone that the war in Ukraine is nearing its conclusion. While many hope for a positive outcome for Ukraine, the risks are high, and earlier aspirations for peace may not materialize. We have learned from our own experiences—after our conflict, the world moved on, and we were left to rely on ourselves. That is why we must prioritize our people and national interests,” said Papuashvili.

The Georgian parliamentary delegation, led by Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, is attending the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.