Parliament Speaker criticises EU ministers’ statement, thanks “majority” who did not sign text

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday criticised a statement by ministers of European affairs of 13 European Union member states that said Georgia would not become a member of the bloc unless the country’s Government “alters its current course”, and thanked a “majority” of member countries that did not sign its text.

Signed by ministers from states including Germany, France and Poland, the statement said it was “motivated by the overwhelming pro-European public support of the Georgian people”. It added the countries had been “strong supporters of Georgia” on its EU integration path “from the very beginning” but “now share their concern and call for ensuring that the upcoming [parliamentary] elections [on Saturday] are free and fair”.

It also said the Georgian authorities had “adopted a number of laws which are not compatible with the EU’s acquis” over the recent months, naming the law on transparency of foreign influence - which requires non-commercial entities and media outlets to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad - among them.

Due to those decisions, the EU integration process of your country has been put on hold. It will remain so, as long as the present political course continues,” it also noted.

In his response, Papuashvili said Georgia was experiencing an “important period of development”, while emphasising that the “essential principle of responsibility” was being “slowly, painfully, but gradually established” in domestic politics.

The population of Georgia has already seen the results of irresponsible policies in the 1990s”, he said in reference to a military coup d’état and the 1992-1993 armed conflict in the Russian-occupied Abkhazia region and the 2008 war with Russia.

The chief Georgian legislator emphasised the “need for both domestic and international actors to recognise the potential impact of their calls, resolutions, and statements”.

It is important that the majority of EU members did not support the text, which is an interference in Georgian elections by influencing the will of the voters”, he claimed.

Papuashvili also criticised “demands” from Georgia’s Western partners for release of the country’s imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili, whom he described as the “creator of a torture system”, as well as calls for establishing bilateral sanctions against Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The official also extended his gratitude to the 14 EU member states that chose not to join the statement, acknowledging their “responsibility” in the matter.