Parliament Speaker: elections decision “between independent country, conduit of foreign interests”

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday claimed the parliamentary elections next month would be a decision between an “independent country acting with its own interests or one carrying out foreign interests”.

Papuashvili alleged the domestic opposition was being “completely subservient to outside groups” and said the ruling Georgian Dream party would gain a constitutional majority in the Parliament.

He also said the country’s citizens were “pleased to see Georgian legends” in the party’s electoral list that was revealed to the public on Tuesday, in reference to Lasha Talakhadze and Geno Petriashvili - Olympic, World and European champions in weightlifting and freestyle wrestling respectively - among others in the list of top 20 candidates.

It is important and this is also a message to all patriotic Georgians to support GD on October 26”, the official added while alleging the domestic opposition and non-governmental organisations “supporting them” had “bullied” the candidates since their reveal.

The Parliament Speaker also noted the public was “happy” that Bidzina Ivanishvili, the party's Honorary Chair and founder, would himself be at the top of the list and “lead GD towards constitutional majority”.