Georgia’s Parliament Chair slams Lelo opposition’s plan for sanctions on Russia

Shalva Papuashvili, Chairman of the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday criticized Lelo opposition party’s proposal for imposing sanctions on Russia, describing it as a “path leading to economic collapse” and potential military conflict.

Papuashvili labeled the plan as “absurd,” and accused Lelo of advocating for policies that could harm Georgia’s stability.

Papuashvili emphasized that if aligning more closely with the European Union involved escalating tensions with Russia and imposing sanctions, it represented an unpeaceful approach.

He claimed that Lelo’s strategy, as outlined in their election program, entailed closing the border with Russia and enacting economic sanctions. Papuashvili warned that such measures could lead to severe economic consequences and possibly military confrontation with Russia.

He contrasted this with the approach of the ruling Georgian Dream party, which he argued seeks EU integration through a “path of peace, prosperity, and dignity”. Papuashvili asserted that the opposition’s chosen path represented escalation, whereas his party’s strategy aimed to achieve European integration while maintaining stability.