The Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, has refused to attend the meeting of the delegation of parliamentarians of the member states of the European Union.
The delegation of chairpersons of the foreign relations committees of eight EU countries is in Tbilisi.
Papuashvili says “this group” requested a meeting with him and the chairmen of a number of committees of Parliament, which he refused, explaining his reason in writing. Papuashvili shared the mentioned letter on Facebook.
One of the reasons for the refusal, Papuashvili cites, is the critical attitude of several European politicians in the delegation, including them the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Seimas of Lithuania, Žygimantas Pavilionis, towards the Georgian Dream government.
Papuashvili accuses them of an unfriendly attitude and of interfering in the Georgian elections.
“I was not surprised by the arrival of a delegation of members of parliament from several EU countries to Georgia. However, I was really surprised by the intention of some members of the delegation to meet with the political and parliamentary leadership of Georgia, despite their personal unfriendly attitude towards the Georgian government and Georgian society.
“Although the Georgian government remains committed to promoting dialogue with all relevant and interested parties of the European Union, I cannot respond positively to this intention to hold meetings.
“It is obvious that the main reason for the visit is political bias, and everyone can see it.
“During the pre-election campaign, some members of the delegation and other foreign politicians constantly and purposefully violated Georgian legislation by conducting a public campaign against the ruling party of Georgia and supporting the opposition, thereby trying to illegally influence the will of citizens,” Papuashvili wrote.
Papuashvili states that taking into account the above, he considers it impossible to agree to the request for a meeting received from the delegation.
“At the same time, I would like to express my respect to other members of the delegation and confirm my readiness to continue the dialogue within the framework of the fundamental principles and norms of parliamentary diplomacy, based on equality and respect for sovereignty,” Papuashvili wrote.
One of the politicians included in the delegation, the chairman of the foreign relations committee of the German Bundestag, Michael Roth, wrote on X that no one from the ruling party agreed to the meeting, not even from the government.
The chairmen of the foreign relations committees of the following countries are currently in Georgia:
Germany,
Finland,
Sweden,
France
Lithuania,
Latvia,
Estonia,
Poland.
