Georgian Parliament official accuses Brussels of treating Georgia as “puppet state”

Gia Volski, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party and the First Vice Speaker of the Parliament, on Friday criticised the European Union’s directives, accusing Brussels of treating Georgia as a puppet state rather than a sovereign nation.

“They are telling us that Georgia is not a state but should be a puppet Government, and if it’s not a puppet, there will naturally be an aggressive attitude toward it, which it must either accept or not accept”, Volski said.

He emphasised that the Georgian people, not external forces, would determine their leadership through democratic processes.

“Global processes, the attitudes of European countries toward each other, and relations with the US do not always develop in a straightforward manner. Society must judge based on whose arguments are correct. If on the other side there are European demands and ultimatums regarding certain issues, this does not mean that we should not provide a corresponding response. Based on an argued response, society will decide who to vote for, who is needed or not needed in power. The people will decide this, and accordingly, our responses are, of course, well-reasoned. However, the fact is that some media outlets mainly follow the narrative that there are eight conditions, of which seven, eight, or five are unfulfilled, and they reduce serious discussions to this arithmetic”, Volski noted.

The official specifically addressed concerns about LGBT propaganda, asserting that while individual rights must be protected, such propaganda was used as a lever for destabilising Georgia.

“The country needs stability, and stability, of course, requires restricting LGBT propaganda. No one should violate their rights - this is also necessary and important - but if propaganda continues, it will always be used as a lever against Georgia’s interests, as a method and lever for destabilisation. Transparency - obviously, when money is brought into Georgia to finance revolutionary processes, you either have to deny the facts we have or say that we are ready to ensure all kinds of transparency without a law. They don’t say this; instead, they issue an ultimatum: repeal the law, that’s it, repeal this law. This is not followed by any proposal, like, let’s discuss, maybe we can agree on transparency without a law. They don’t say that either”, he said.

Volski accused foreign actors of supporting political movements without accountability, reinforcing the notion that Georgia was expected to act as a subordinate state.

“You are small, you are obliged, any ambassador can support any political movement, live in their house, and not pay for it. That’s what you are - that’s what they’re telling us, that Georgia is not a state but should be a puppet government. If it’s not a puppet, there will naturally be an aggressive attitude toward it, which it must either accept or not accept”, he concluded.