Georgia’s parliament speaker blames EU leaders for strained relations, calls for ‘respect’ for democracy

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has said that responsibility for the current tensions between Georgia and the European Union “lies with European leaders,” accusing them of turning the relationship into a tool of their political agenda.

Speaking during the presentation of the annual report in the Parliament of Georgia on Tuesday, Papuashvili said Brussels “must take steps to restore ties” to what he described as a “dignified framework”.

He argued that the EU should respect democratic principles, including the will of the Georgian people, and avoid what he called attempts to impose political preferences from outside.

“Forcing political will on the Georgian people from abroad, or trying to create a substitute version of public opinion, is a rejection of democracy. With its current policy, Brussels is hindering, not supporting, Georgian democracy,” he said.

Papuashvili also called on the EU to respect the rule of law, pointing to a number of legal cases in international courts where, he said, decisions had favoured the Georgian state. He criticised what he described as continued questioning of Georgia’s judiciary despite those rulings.

He further urged European institutions to stop what he called disinformation and “anti-Georgian rhetoric”, warning that partnership cannot function where political narratives outweigh facts.

“If the EU truly wants to improve relations with Georgia, the path is simple: respect the Georgian people, their democratic choice, and the values that define Europe,” he said.