In essence, the opposition is suggesting surrendering sovereignty by advocating for foreigners to influence appointing judges in Georgia, said Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament.

His remarks were prompted by the opposition United National Movement’s proposal to implement a vetting system, which entails the so-called examination of judges for honesty.

Papuashvili criticized the active participation of non-governmental organizations funded by foreign donors, stating that such involvement exceeds the boundaries of respecting Georgia’s sovereignty.

“This is gradually surpassing all limits of respect for sovereignty when donors, through their funded NGOs, convey a desire to appoint judges in Georgia. I emphasize, following the Vienna Convention, that everyone must respect domestic politics and sovereignty. Foreign countries have no role in staffing Georgia’s justice system. This stance not only formally contradicts our constitution but also challenges our spirit of independence. We fought for independence so that, after 30 years of independence, we wouldn’t let foreign countries decide our fate and appoint our judiciary. The opposition and the non-governmental sector seem to be approaching a dangerous threshold where Georgia’s interests are entirely neglected,” remarked Shalva Papuashvili.