Neither ruling party nor its representatives can expect same recognition or respect as legitimately elected democratic institutions, opposition

Levan Sanikidze, one of the leaders of Georgia’s United National Movement (UNM), has criticized the government and Levan Makhashvili, chairman of the parliamentary committee on European integration, calling both the administration and the current parliament “illegitimate.”

Sanikidze on Monday said that neither the ruling party nor its representatives could expect the same recognition or respect as a legitimately elected democratic institution.

“A government that is illegitimate, and Mr. Makhashvili, who is a so-called member of parliament, cannot receive the treatment that a democratically elected parliament would,” Sanikidze said.

He added that, in his view, Makhashvili should have been an opposition figure after October 26, referencing the date as a political turning point.

“At best, Mr. Makhashvili should have been an opposition representative after October 26. When you falsify elections, trample on rights, when the country abandoned its Euro-Atlantic integration path on November 28, 2024, when power is usurped and prisons are full of political prisoners - the West will respond accordingly,” Sanikidze said.

His comments came in response to Makhashvili’s recent letter to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, in which the Georgian ruling party expressed concern over what it described as “hostile rhetoric and politically motivated actions” by some Members of the European Parliament.

Makhashvili announced that the Georgian parliamentary delegation would boycott the 12th Euronest plenary session in Yerevan, criticizing the European Parliament for alleged bias and interference in Georgia’s internal affairs.