Ruling party MP: EU should acknowledge Georgia’s public trust, strategic role

Georgian Dream parliamentary faction First Deputy Chair Levan Machavariani has called on the European Union to “face reality” and open a new chapter in relations with Georgia, citing “strong public trust” in the country’s parliament and government.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Machavariani claimed a recent EU study showed Georgia among the top 10 European countries for public trust in parliament and among the top five for trust in government. 

The lawmaker accused Brussels of repeatedly criticising the Georgian government since 2022 and alleged that EU institutions had spread “lies and disinformation” and supported attempts to destabilise the Georgian government.

He also argued that the EU would eventually have to recognise Georgia’s strategic importance as a “key country” along the Middle Corridor and as a Black Sea state.

Machavariani further criticised what he described as the EU’s political direction, including its approach to migration, energy policy, LGBT issues and support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. He also referred to political developments in Germany and Iceland as evidence, in his view, of growing disagreement with Brussels’ policies.

He further accused EU institutions of interfering in Georgia’s domestic affairs, including by supporting opposition groups, protests and “attempts to bring down the Georgian Dream government.”

Machavariani alleged that several attempts to destabilise the government between 2022 and 2025 had been supported or financed from Brussels. 

He also criticised the EU’s response to Georgia’s democratic record, the country’s controversial “transparency” law, its relations with China, the treatment of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia’s 2024 elections and the government’s decision not to impose bilateral sanctions on Russia.

Machavariani said Georgian Dream was not seeking confrontation with anyone and that its statements were responses to “unfair treatment.”

“We are a proud government of a proud nation,” he wrote, adding that Georgia would not allow its “national dignity” to be undermined.

He said that, sooner or later, EU officials would have to recognise that attempts to force a change of government would not succeed and that Georgia’s strategic position could not be ignored.

“We are ready to forget so much injustice and start relations from a new page,” Machavariani said.