Georgian Parliament Speaker warns foreign-funded groups are on a “Maidan-like” path

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday warned that certain domestic opposition parties and foreign-funded NGOs were stepping outside democratic frameworks and pursuing a violent overthrow of the Government, describing it as a path “that leads directly to Maidan”.

In his remarks, Papuashvili said that these groups had openly rejected participation in democratic processes and were attempting to seize power through unlawful means.

“Let me remind everyone that the only way to obtain a governmental mandate is through elections, and these groups [parties and foreign-funded NGOs] have declared that they are stepping outside democratic frameworks and are trying to seize Governmental power through violent means. This is exactly what the statements about overthrow are about”, Papuashvili said.

The Speaker argued that both those who participate in these activities and those who “normalise” or support them - whether through meetings or diplomatic engagement - were encouraging violent processes.

“Everyone who participates in this, everyone who belittles the so-called term of overthrow, supports it, or makes it salon-like by meeting with them and organising diplomatic or political meetings, is encouraging violent processes. Therefore, it is a fact that they have no public support”, he noted.

“This is the dangerous path that a few parties and NGOs, dictated by foreign forces, are taking today. This is the path that leads directly to Maidan”, Papuashvili concluded.