Georgian Parliament Speaker warns against “choice” between EU future and territorial integrity

Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday claimed that external forces are seeking to condition Georgia’s European Union integration on the surrender of its occupied territories and national sovereignty, arguing that an effort is underway to pressure the public into viewing Georgia’s regions as a “burden” that must be discarded to clear the path toward the EU.

In his remarks, Papuashvili noted that Georgia has faced relentless external interference and attempts to destabilise the state for the past 14 years, citing Saakashvili as a prime example.

He further added that these foreign actors are determined to subvert the country and restore the UNM ideology because they desire “puppets” in the Georgian government.

The speaker referenced recent Western commentary suggesting Georgia has deviated from the path taken by Ukraine and Moldova, using those nations to illustrate what he views as a deeply flawed geopolitical compromise.

Papuashvili argued that Ukraine is currently being told that EU membership requires a peace agreement with Russia that involves ceding territory. He also claimed that Moldova’s leadership has suggested the most optimal route to EU membership involves dissolving its statehood to become a region of another country.

The speaker warned that a similar scenario is being pushed upon Georgia, forcing a choice between European integration and territorial integrity.

“This is what they were actually pushing us toward. They want us to get used to the idea that if we want to see a perspective in the European Union, we must give up our territories, view them as a burden, get rid of them, and only then will the path to the EU open up for us. And secondly, we must give up our sovereignty. We must adopt the laws they tell us to, not because of standards, but because of political taste, and thus end our entire historic struggle for independence so “gloriously”. This is precisely what they are pushing us toward - to have an inglorious membership in the European Union”, he concluded.