Georgian FM says EuroNest cannot dictate Georgia’s path, boycott decision correct

Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on Saturday endorsed the parliamentary delegation’s boycott of the EuroNest platform, asserting that it was never intended to impose political direction on member states.

Botchorishvili's comments came after recent EuroNest resolutions that labelled Georgia’s 2024 parliamentary elections as “rigged”, called the elected Government “self-proclaimed”, and described convicted attackers on state institutions as “political prisoners”.

In her remarks, Botchorishvili rejected EuroNest’s role in prescribing Georgia’s development trajectory, stating the platform’s original purpose was dialogue, not dictation.

“The EuroNest delegation cannot dictate to the Georgian people in which direction to lead their country's development. This platform was never created for that purpose”, she said.

The Foreign Minister highlighted that other Eastern Partnership nations have similarly stepped back, validating Georgia’s boycott.

“Many countries from the Eastern Partnership are already missing from this platform. In this case, the decision of the Georgian delegation is correct”, Botchorishvili concluded.

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday announced that Georgia’s delegation would boycott future EuroNest Parliamentary Assembly sessions, accusing the European Parliament of weaponising the platform to blackmail and delegitimise Georgia’s democratic institutions.