Parliament Speaker: Elections without “extremist parties” better for Georgian democracy

Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, stated that it would be beneficial for Georgia’s democracy if “extremist parties” do not take part in the upcoming elections.

“When, on the one hand, you say you do not recognize any elections and have no intention of participating, but on the other hand, you criticize the election procedures, it clearly shows these groups are still busy deceiving their supporters. In reality, they will likely rejoin the electoral marathon, which is unfortunate. Overall, if extremist parties do not participate in the elections, it would be better for our democracy,” said Papuashvili.

Commenting on the Central Election Commission (CEC) decision to tighten election monitoring rules, Papuashvili said the recurring “false hysteria,” often fueled by foreign funding, has been confirmed multiple times.

“It has also been proven that the CEC’s decisions align with the highest international standards. The problem is not with ISFED, Transparency International, or other foreign-influenced organizations, but rather with the donors who are funding attacks on Georgian democracy. We must look to the donors and question their intentions toward Georgia’s democratic development. When the organizations hired by them begin to speak out, it’s a signal to us that another attack on our elections and democracy is being prepared—something we’ve witnessed before,” Papuashvili added.