Georgian Parliament Speaker slams opposition for boycotts, alleged plans for post-election unrest

Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday criticised the domestic opposition for boycotting parliamentary sessions and “preparing for unrest” following the October general elections. 

In an appearance on the Imedi live programme, the official claimed the opposition had “consistently refused to recognise any parliamentary elections since 2012”, when the current Georgian Dream ruling party defeated the United National Movement, the previous ruling force, in the Parliamentary vote after nine years in office. 

The radical opposition is not aiming to secure a mandate through elections but rather to disrupt the process after the vote. Their plan is to turn October 26 into a day of scandal and chaos”, Papuashvili alleged. 

He noted the opposition had boycotted 40 percent of the plenary sessions in the current Parliament and questioned their commitment to “European values”. 

What is pro-Europeanism if you do not recognise elections and skip half of the sessions?” he asked, claiming the GD authorities had maintained a “calm election environment while the opposition avoids public engagement”.

Papuashvili further addressed concerns about alleged foreign influence in the election process, particularly referencing the 2020 vote.

He alleged the results from a parallel vote tabulation by the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy non-governmental organisation, sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development, had been “falsified” and the “deception” had been supported by “some foreign actors”.

Even some US officials questioned the legitimacy of our elections [in 2020], based on false data funded by the US Government”, he said, reiterating calls for an investigation into the alleged engagement of US officials, including the then Ambassador Kelly Degnan, in the country’s elections. 

In his comments, Papuashvili also accused the opposition of “promoting war”, contrasting their stance with that of the ruling party, which he claimed “seeks a peaceful path to European integration”. 

He claimed the opposition associated the EU “with war, demanding sanctions [on Russia] and military involvement [in the Russia-Ukraine war]” while the GD Government aimed to “reach Europe through peace”.