Latest news with #ShalvaPapuashvili
JAMnews
04-07-2025
- Politics
- JAMnews
'What's stopping us from calling it treason?' — opinion on Georgian Dream's response to OSCE criticism
Georgian Dream did not recognize the Portuguese Declaration The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopted the Portuguese Declaration, which, among other issues, addresses Syria's recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia – regions that, for the vast majority of UN member states, remain Georgian territories occupied by Russia. However, the chairman of Georgia's one-party parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, stated that the parliament and the ruling Georgian Dream party did not support the resolution. This comes as no surprise, considering that in addition to reaffirming support for Georgia's territorial integrity, the declaration also criticizes Georgian Dream for its anti-democratic policies and its departure from the path of European integration. So far, only five UN member states have recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, including Syria, which did so in 2018 after the then Syrian government made a complete turn toward Russia. The policy of non-recognition of the independence of these territories has remained one of Georgia's main diplomatic priorities for many years. Some Georgian experts believe that now, with the change of government in Syria, Tbilisi has a unique opportunity to demand the withdrawal of recognition. But is it ready to seize this opportunity? Lawyer Saba Brachveli reflects on this. Saba Brachveli: 'Georgia has no diplomatic relations with Syria because Syria recognizes the independence of the occupied territories. At the moment, after the overthrow of the previous government, Syria is undergoing a global reset of its international relations, which gives us the best chance to secure the withdrawal of recognition. Opposition parties have jointly appealed to the new Syrian authorities with such a request. What 'Georgian Dream' is doing in this regard (if anything at all) remains unknown. On July 3, the OSCE adopted a declaration that, on one hand, calls on Syria to recognize Georgia's territorial integrity, and on the other hand, urges 'Georgian Dream' to release political prisoners, hold repeat parliamentary elections, and stop hostile rhetoric toward the European Union. [Parliament Speaker] Shalva Papuashvili stated that the Georgian delegation, consisting of members of Georgian Dream, does not support this declaration. In other words, they did not back the most prominent and influential demand for Syria to recognize our territorial integrity. This raises questions: What do we call those who put their personal and party interests above the interests of the homeland? What do we call those for whom the arrest of innocent people is more important than the return of occupied territories? What prevents us from calling this treason?' News in Georgia
Russia Today
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU financing ‘extremism'
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has accused the EU of inciting and financing extremism in his country. The claim comes amid a deepening rift between Tbilisi and Brussels over alleged 'democratic backsliding.' Kobakhidze insisted on Thursday that his government has 'indisputable' evidence that Western actors are backing anti-government protests in the country. 'We prove this with facts, videos, and [EU] financing practices. We have direct facts about how these people are financing extremism in our country. We talk to them with facts, but they respond with general phrases, and more often lies. This is sad,' Kobakhidze said, as cited by Rustavi 2. Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili echoed the charge, stating that 'extremism in Georgia is supported and financed from the budgets of the EU.' He added that he had written to EU Ambassador Pawel Herczynski detailing the accusations but had yet to receive a reply. The ruling Georgian Dream party, which secured a decisive parliamentary majority in October 2024, has accused Western powers of interfering in the country's domestic politics under the guise of 'democracy promotion.' Officials in Tbilisi have drawn parallels to the 2014 Maidan uprising in Ukraine and say similar tactics are now being used to destabilize Georgia for refusing to adopt a confrontational stance against Russia in the Ukraine conflict. Following Georgian Dream's victory, a coalition of pro-Western parties alleged fraud and launched protests to force the government's resignation. EU and US officials voiced support for the opposition, which Georgian leaders denounced as foreign meddling. Brussels has also led a coordinated campaign against Georgia's foreign influence transparency law, legislation that requires political organizations to disclose substantial foreign funding. Although similar laws exist across the West, the European External Action Service claimed the legislation in Georgia was 'a serious setback for democracy' and warned it could 'threaten the country's EU path.' Tensions spiked last month when French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a joint statement on Georgia's Independence Day, accusing the government of 'democratic backsliding.' Papuashvili dismissed the statement as 'shameful,' saying it disrespected both the state and its people. Georgia was granted EU candidate status in December 2023 but has since suspended accession talks, citing Brussels' increasingly coercive tone. The government, however, insists that it remains committed to eventual EU membership.
