Arts should not be politicized, ruling party MP

Ruling Georgian Dream party senior MP Mariam Lashkhi has warned that the arts, both in Georgia and globally, were becoming increasingly vulnerable to political influence.

Speaking at a joint session of the Education, Science and Youth Affairs Committee and the Culture Committee, Lashkhi said “today we see that the stage is being used as a political arena. This is not respect for art, it is its degradation.”

She stressed the importance of maintaining the aesthetic and cultural role of the theatre in shaping public taste, saying “the stage, and even television products, should not be turned into instruments for political purposes. I hope this consideration will be respected.”

Lashkhi also addressed the notion that certain professions, including acting, might be exempt from legal accountability. 

She cited the case of director Roman Polanski, noting that despite his significant contributions to French culture and cinema, he was still held legally accountable.

“Polanski’s achievements do not grant him immunity. The law applies regardless of profession, and this boundary between legal responsibility and creative work must be respected.”