Georgian Parliament Speaker calls for restoring “Georgian values” in all areas of public life
Shalva Papuashvili
Photo: Parliament of Georgia
Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said that the use of hate speech on social media is not merely an issue of aesthetics or emotions, but a matter of national security.
In his remarks, Papuashvili noted that the promotion and spread of hate and hostility are tools that can be exploited by those who are hostile to the country.
He argued that such methods are used to influence Georgia’s internal political environment, create confusion in society, and incite confrontation among citizens.
He emphasised that this form of communication should be understood as a security challenge rather than a purely social or ethical one.
“Hate speech is not just a question of aesthetics or emotions; it is a matter of state security”, he said, adding that similar methods are allegedly used to destabilize countries by fostering division and mistrust within society.
Papuashvili also called for a proactive state response to prevent the use of such tools against Georgia. He said that institutions should take responsibility for limiting the impact of hate speech and hostile messaging in the public space.
The speaker further argued that all spheres of public life should be aligned with Georgian values. He claimed that certain external influences promote divisive rhetoric and contribute to the spread of hostility in society, including through diplomatic and political channels.
Papuashvili concluded that strengthening what he described as national values is essential, asserting that foreign ideological influence can be harmful to the country’s stability and cohesion.
All News
18 May 2026, 18:20
Politics
Georgian PM: treatment of free media reveals condition of European bureaucracy
Speaking to journalists in Baku, Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday said that the attitude of the European bureaucracy toward media freedom, and in particular toward specific free media outlets, “illustrates the overall condition” of the EU institutional system.
18 May 2026, 18:18
Politics
Georgian Prime Minister: efforts to divide society on May 26 will have no success
Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday said that May 26, Georgia’s Independence Day, should serve as a moment of national consolidation rather than political confrontation, warning that attempts to create divisions on the day are doomed to fail.
18 May 2026, 18:16
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker casts doubt on shared values with some European politicians, slams European Parliament standards
Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday sharply criticised the European Parliament, questioning the shared values between Georgia and some European politicians.
18 May 2026, 18:11
Economy
Tbilis-Baku daily passenger rail service to resume on May 26
Georgia and Azerbaijan have reached an agreement within the framework of strengthening strategic partnership and regional cooperation to restore daily passenger railway service between Tbilisi and Baku, with the first train scheduled to depart on May 26.
18 May 2026, 17:15
Economy
Georgia, Azerbaijan extend gas supply agreement for 20 years
Georgia and Azerbaijan have extended a 2003 agreement on the purchase and sale of natural gas for another 20 years, a move the Georgian government says will strengthen guarantees for the country’s social gas supply security.
18 May 2026, 17:12
Foreign policy
Georgian PM, Azerbaijani President review strategic partnership, prospects for further deepening cooperation
Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to discuss the strategic partnership between the two nations and prospects for further deepening cooperation across various sectors.
18 May 2026, 16:54
Foreign policy
Georgia advancing balanced development across regions through global cooperation, says PM
Speaking at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum in Baku on Monday, Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze highlighted his government's active collaboration with the United Nations and international partners to drive balanced and inclusive development across all regions of Georgia.
18 May 2026, 16:44
Foreign policy
Georgian PM says Georgia advancing national spatial development concept with international support
Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday emphasised that with the support of international partners, Georgia was advancing the National Spatial Development Concept.
18 May 2026, 16:36
Foreign policy
Georgian PM says balanced territorial development, urban planning key priorities for Georgia
Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday said that alongside the country’s robust economic growth, balanced territorial development and modern urban planning have become key national policy priorities in recent years.
18 May 2026, 16:04
Politics
Georgian, Chinese Parliament Speakers discuss expanding trade, transit, parliamentary ties
Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday met with Zhao Leji, the chair of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China. During the meeting, both parties highlighted the dynamic development of bilateral relations across various sectors, which is heavily reflected in high-level mutual visits.
18 May 2026, 15:42
Foreign policy
Georgian PM attends opening ceremony of World Urban Forum in Baku
Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze is participating in the World Urban Forum in Baku.
18 May 2026, 15:25
Politics
Georgian Vice PM announces special unit on hate speech, denies any free speech restrictions
While informing the public about the creation of a special unit within the ministry of internal affairs, Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Georgian vice prime minister and state minister for coordination of law enforcement agencies, emphasised that the purpose of this decision was not to restrict freedom of opinion or expression in any form.
18 May 2026, 15:14
Politics
Georgia’s ruling party Sec Gen: we strive for European future, yet EU bureaucracy lacks those values
Kakha Kaladze, the mayor of Tbilisi and secretary general of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday described a recent statement by a member of the European Parliament Krzysztof Brejza as insulting, after Brejza claimed that former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili was being held on fabricated charges.
18 May 2026, 14:28
Politics
Georgia, China highlight progress in bilateral relations and strategic cooperation
Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday met with Wang Huning, the chair of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
18 May 2026, 14:18
Foreign policy
Georgian PM arrives in Baku for World Urban Summit and high-level talks
Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday arrived in Azerbaijan to participate in the World Urban Summit.
18 May 2026, 13:39
Politics
State institutions ready to prevent any unrest on May 26, says Vice PM Mamuka Mdinaradze
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Georgian vice prime minister and state minister for coordination of law enforcement agencies, on Monday said that state institutions are fully prepared to maintain order and prevent any attempts at destabilisation during the upcoming May 26 opposition rally.
18 May 2026, 13:24
Foreign policy
Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker: Georgia seeks closer relations with China
Georgia, too, as China's strategic partner and a key country in the Middle Corridor, strives to have close, intensive relations with China, said on Monday Giorgi Volski, the vice speaker of the Georgian Parliament.
18 May 2026, 12:32
Politics
Georgian Vice PM: Interior Ministry to launch unit targeting hate speech and aggressive communication
A specialised division will be established within the ministry of internal affairs of Georgia, mandated to conduct systematic monitoring and execute legal responses regarding hate speech, defamatory campaigns, and aggressive communication in public spaces, said on Monday Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Georgian vice prime minister and state minister for coordination of law enforcement agencies.
18 May 2026, 12:19
Foreign policy
Georgian FM: Baku Summit key platform for advancing Georgia’s priorities
Georgian foreign minister Maka Botchorishvili on Monday commented on the participation of the Georgian delegation in the World Urban Summit in Baku, stressing that the prime minister’s participation in the conference would help both to present Georgia’s positions on key issues and to hold bilateral meetings with partner countries.


