Georgian Parliament Speaker: as long as Georgian Dream in power, interests of Georgian people will be ensured

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said that Georgia’s foreign and domestic policy should be guided first and foremost by the interests of the Georgian people, arguing that the Georgian Dream government ensures this principle in practice.

Papuashvili made the remarks in response to questions about criticism of Georgia’s relations with China and the United States, including claims linked to articles and statements by opposition figures.

“What kind of attitude is this toward one’s own country - whether Georgia acts in accordance with someone’s interests or not? First and foremost, Georgia must act in accordance with the interests of the Georgian people, and that is what the Georgian Dream government is doing. If someone wants something different, then they should bring the United National Movement back to power, and they will serve not the interests of the Georgian people, but of other peoples”, he said.

The speaker further noted that Georgia must prioritise the interests of its own population above all else.

“As long as the Georgian Dream is in power in Georgia, the interests of the Georgian people will be ensured in this country. This is the starting point for the search for common interests between sovereign states. This is how we see it, and as we receive signals from the new US administration, this is how alliances are being formed - every country first declares its own national interest, and then two countries, based on their national interests, look for where common interests lie”, Papuashvili stressed.

He also described Georgia’s foreign policy approach as one based on identifying shared interests between sovereign states rather than subordination to external demands.

“This is exactly what Georgia offers in its relations with all countries - not subordination or questioning who wants what from Georgia and then presenting the country’s interests like a menu for others. What suits the radical opposition is constant tension. They tried to create this by attempting to drag us into war, by constantly introducing tension through any topic possible. There is no issue they do not try to use for escalation”, he noted.

Papuashvili criticised opposition figures, including Nika Gvaramia, accusing them of promoting narratives that, in his view, undermine national interests and contribute to political tension.

“When we talk about the radical opposition, let us not forget that, overall, they are not acting independently - they are merely puppets in someone else’s hands, being manipulated from outside. The main goal is to replace the government in Georgia and bring in vassals who will unconditionally follow external instructions”, Papuashvili concluded.