Georgian Parliament Speaker highlights “security, peace” in country as “manifestation” of Western partnerships

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said the Government’s “allied relations” with Western partners were “manifested” in “security and peace” being maintained in the country.

In comments responding to criticism by the domestic opposition regarding measures taken by some of Georgia’s Western partners following the Government’s adoption of a controversial law on transparency of foreign influence earlier this year, Papuashvili stressed it was a “lie” that the country remained without allies.

Georgia had a leading role in various missions [of NATO and the EU]. Of course, Georgia intends to be a part of the international security system in this regard. Our allied relations are manifested in the fact that security and peace are maintained in Georgia”, he said.

“If the war had broken out here [amid the war in Ukraine], which our opposition and part of [domestic] NGOs wanted, Georgia would have been destroyed, but no less damage would have been done to the European Union by blocking the only safe corridor that exists today connecting Europe and Asia”, the official continued.

The Parliament Speaker further added that the Government’s cooperation with Western partners continued “in various formats”.