Georgia needs democratic transformation, not the European Union, because decisions in the EU are made democratically, said Lasha Parulava, a member of the United National Movement party.

Parulava commented on a report by the US House Judiciary Committee, which claims that “the European Commission remains committed to censorship,  targets conservative content and interferes in elections across Europe.”

“Everyone should obtain a democratic mandate through free and fair elections, where a culture of debate is preserved, and censorship is avoided. The United States is the main exporter of democracy in the world, and if there is a problem with democracy, it is primarily in Georgia, linked to the Georgian Dream and Bidzina Ivanishvili. These relations need a reset. First of all, our country needs democratic transformation, not the European Union. There is no problem there — the problem is in Georgia,” Parulava said.

Asked whether he now agrees with the United States after previously criticizing the Georgian government’s claims about external interference, Parulava replied: “I not only agree with Washington, I defend democratic governance. A democratic mandate requires new, free elections. It cannot be achieved by persecuting opponents or imprisoning them. New elections would reset relations with the United States. The democratic problem in Georgia is the Georgian Dream. If there are problems in the European Union, they will be resolved democratically.”