Georgian Parliament Speaker: EU demands for anti-Russian sanctions are “steps against peace in Georgia”

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said that Georgia and Armenia faced different challenges and “should not be viewed through the same lens”, while arguing that pressure from Brussels on issues such as sanctions policy, visa policy, and domestic legislation concerns Georgia’s sovereignty.

Responding to a journalist’s question comparing Georgia’s and Armenia’s approaches to peace and sovereignty, Papuashvili noted that the two countries had distinct historical backgrounds and security environments.

“I think we can agree that Armenia is one state and Georgia is another. You are greatly mistaken if you think we face almost identical challenges”, he said.

Papuashvili added that Georgia’s priority was preserving peace within the country.

“We see peace in Georgia, and when we identify risks to maintaining peace, we speak about them. Of course, when Brussels tells you to impose sanctions on Russia, these are steps directed against peace in Georgia. We opposed them, and we are being punished for that”, the Speaker continued.

Papuashvili argued that some of the demands linked to discussions on visa liberalisation include Georgia’s full alignment with the European Union’s sanctions policy.

“They demand full alignment with the EU sanctions policy. For four years we have been trying to explain to the world that treating Georgia as if it were a NATO member state is impossible. They live in a different security environment. If a single bird flies in from Russia, we see the entire NATO alliance react. Georgia is not such a country. Yet Brussels is specifically demanding that we join its sanctions policy”, he said.

The Parliament Speaker further criticised EU objections to Georgia’s visa policies toward certain countries, including Russia and China.

“We are criticised for not joining the EU sanctions policy against Russia. We are also criticised for our visa policy, including visa-free travel arrangements with Russia. Beyond Russia, the EU does not like the fact that Chinese citizens can enter Georgia without visas. What are we supposed to do - introduce visa travel with China and discourage tourism, business, and economic activity simply because Brussels has different views?” Papuashvili said.

He further claimed that Brussels seeks to preserve the ability to spend funds on political activities in Georgia without full public disclosure.

“Brussels is demanding that it retain the possibility, as in the past, to spend money on politics in Georgia without transparency”, he said.

Papuashvili argued that the issues raised by the EU concerning Georgia’s sanctions policy, visa travel, and legislation are fundamentally matters of national sovereignty rather than visa liberalisation.

“What does any of this have to do with visa-free travel with the European Union? We are simply saying that if Brussels spends money in Georgia, the Georgian people should know how that money is being spent. All of these criticisms regarding Georgia’s visa policy, sanctions policy, and legislative policy are issues of domestic sovereignty. Visa liberalisation is being presented as a ‘strawberry’’ and we are being offered that strawberry in exchange for our sovereignty”, the Speaker concluded.