Irakli Kirtskhalia: Political rhetoric from Brussels is at odds with international data on Georgia

Political statements from Brussels are at odds with findings from international surveys that frequently rank Georgia among the leading countries in the region and, in some areas, globally, Georgian Dream parliamentary faction chair Irakli Kirtskhalia said.

Kirtskhalia made the remarks while commenting on a European Commission survey which, according to Georgian Dream, places Georgia among the top five countries in Europe for public trust in government.

Asked about criticism of the Georgian authorities from European and U.S. officials, including U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson, who has drawn a distinction between the Georgian people and their government, Kirtskhalia said international data painted a different picture.

“We have said this repeatedly: political statements from Brussels and elsewhere that are detached from reality are one thing, while the findings of highly respected international organisations and institutions are another,” Kirtskhalia said.

“Across a range of indicators, Georgia ranks not only among the leaders in the region, but often among the leading countries globally,” he added.

Kirtskhalia said the figures reflected what Georgian society had observed for years and argued that criticism from foreign political figures was aimed at shaping public perceptions rather than reflecting conditions in the country.

He also referred to Georgia’s 2024 parliamentary elections and 2025 local elections, accusing foreign politicians of involvement in domestic political developments, including participation in anti-government demonstrations on Tbilisi’s Rustaveli Avenue.

Kirtskhalia further alleged that opposition groups had coordinated their election-related activities with foreign actors, describing recent criticism from abroad as an attempt to sustain what he called a “destructive agenda” among the government’s domestic opponents.

“When statements are completely at odds with research, figures and data, there is an attempt to use those statements to create a false perception of the situation in our country,” Kirtskhalia said.

“But it is precisely these figures and the findings of studies conducted by respected organisations across different fields that show the reality in Georgia today,” he added.