Speaker urges Brussels, other EU capitals to stop disinformation, says partnership impossible when political narratives dominate

“The main responsibility for the current tension in relations between Georgia and the European Union lies with those European rulers who have made this relationship hostage to their own political agenda. This is unacceptable and should change,” said Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, presenting the annual report of the parliament’s activities at the plenary.

According to the Speaker, Brussels knows which steps to take to normalize relations with Georgia.

“Foremost, the EU should respect democracy, the rule of the people. Imposing political will on the Georgian people from the outside, or attempting to create a surrogate “Georgian people” tailored to one’s own tastes, is a blatant denial of democracy. Its current policy undermines and hampers Georgian democracy.

Second, the EU should respect the rule of law. Brussels has been defeated several times in the international courts against the Georgian judiciary for arrogantly undermining its decisions. It was defeated in Strasbourg in cases on Saakashvili, Melia, Gvaramia, Akhalaia and Rustavi 2. It was defeated in Paris and Washington, in the arbitrary courts in the Khazaradze case.

In all these cases, which were portrayed as political persecution for years, the law ultimately said something else. After that, repeating the same accusations is no longer upholding the rule of law, but simply political propaganda. Therefore, Brussels should clearly confirm its commitment to the rule of law and distance itself from violence and politically motivated crimes in pursuing policy.

And finally, Brussels and other EU capitals should stop disinformation and anti-Georgian rhetoric since partnership is impossible when political narratives dominate. If the EU wants to improve relations with Georgia, the solution is simple. It should respect the Georgian people, their democratic choice, and respect the values called European values. There is no other way,” Shalva Papuashvili concluded.