Our delegation clearly and unequivocally expresses the views of the Georgian people at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). I hope Assembly members will resist attempts to turn PACE into a political tool, as this would ultimately harm the institution itself,” said Shalva Papuashvili, the Georgian Parliament Speaker.

According to Papuashvili, the Georgian opposition acts as a puppet of the European People’s Party (EPP), prioritizing the interests of this political group over the national interests of Georgia.

“Everyone knows what the opposition represents and who their patrons are—the EPP. This is the group seeking to release Mikheil Saakashvili from prison, a man responsible for creating a system of torture, racketeering, and media suppression in Georgia, and it portrays him as a symbol of modernization and democracy. Such values are not shared by the Georgian people.

The EPP’s initiative to put the recognition of the Georgian delegation’s credentials to a vote illustrates its harmful approach. Their ally, the Georgian opposition, works against the interests of our nation, seeking to disrupt Georgia’s progress. Their objectives include securing Saakashvili’s release from lawful imprisonment and escalating tensions with Russia.

Our delegation remains firm in expressing the Georgian people’s position. We call on PACE members to reject these politicized efforts and uphold the Assembly’s primary function as a platform for dialogue. If they choose instead to embrace biased narratives and politicization, they risk damaging their own institution.

For Georgia, it would be regrettable to witness international platforms being repurposed into political tools by certain groups,” Papuashvili concluded.