Ex-PM Gakharia says he will continue campaign to defend Georgia's European future, territorial integrity

Former Prime Minister and chair of the opposition Gakharia for Georgia party Giorgi Gakharia has said he will continue working with international partners to defend Georgia's European integration, sovereignty and territorial integrity, while accusing the ruling Georgian Dream party of failing to protect the country's national interests.

In a statement posted on social media during the annual session of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly in The Hague, Gakharia said he was holding meetings with OSCE officials, international partners and parliamentary delegations that he said had supported Georgia for many years.

He accused the ruling Georgian Dream of using international platforms "to spread falsehoods and conceal reality", while asserting that his party was carrying out work that "the Government refuses to do" by defending Georgia's national interests, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Gakharia further alleged that, following “unfulfilled promises” to restore Georgia's territorial integrity and an “apology to the occupiers”, the Government was attempting to normalise both the effective loss of the country's Russian-occupied territories and the derailment of Georgia's European future.

He also accused the Government of failing to respond adequately to Russia's “accelerated annexation” efforts in the occupied territories. According to Gakharia, one of his delegation's principal objectives at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session is to mobilise international partners to respond to developments in the occupied territories.

He said he and his team would continue advocating for Georgia's European future, sovereignty and territorial integrity "wherever Georgia's voice should be heard".