Georgian Parliament Speaker denounces “double standards” in international relations, calls for uniform global rules and consistent standards

Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said there were double standards, noting that what was called “protection” in one country was labeled “restriction” in another and what was praised in one system was condemned in the next, and further added that “if we are serious about cooperation, then the rules must be the same for all”.

In his address at the General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Papuashvili emphasised that this inconsistency undermines trust.

“Let me turn to my region, the South Caucasus.Once seen as volatile, it is becoming more stable and predictable. This is not accidental. It is the result of sovereignty in action. Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan are increasingly acting in line with their national interests. And when sovereignty is respected, stability follows”, Papuashvili said.

“In the Parliament of Georgia, we have made this choice clear. We have strengthened transparency, refined our legislation, and acted to ensure that political power belongs to the people and to no one else. And we will continue to adapt. Because a parliament that does not reflect reality will lose relevance. And a parliament that loses relevance cannot defend sovereignty”, he noted.

Papuashvili further added that peace was never guaranteed, peace was a responsibility and it required vigilance, restraint and long-term vision.

“Strong institutions, transparent systems, forward-looking laws are not technicalities, they are the foundation of peaceAnd this is why we must act together. We must recognize foreign interference and hybrid warfare for what they are: one of the greatest threats to democracy and sovereignty in our time. And we must move beyond declarations. We must build a common, legally binding international framework, clear in principle, fair in application, and consistent in enforcement”, he said.

He emphasised that because sovereignty couldn’t be selective and security couldn't be one-sided.

“If we succeed, we will not only defend our states.We will strengthen peace, restore trust and secure a more stable and just international order for generations to come”, Papuashvili concluded.