Opposition trying to seize power through unlawful means after election defeats, ruling party MP

A member of Georgia’s parliamentary majority, Vako Turnava, has accused the opposition of attempting to change the government through unlawful and revolutionary means after losing local elections this month. 

Speaking in an interview with Italy’s Radio Roma, Turnava said that recent protests in Georgia were not a natural expression of public dissatisfaction, but rather a politically motivated effort by defeated opposition groups.

“These political groups have lost elections twice [2024 parliamentary and 2025 local elections]. They refused to work in Parliament, and now, seeing that they cannot change the government through legal means, they are trying to achieve it through street demonstrations and revolutionary scenarios,” Turnava stated. “Everything they claim today - whether they say they dislike a certain law or accuse the government of being pro-Russian - is simply an attempt to disguise their political failure.”

Turnava also underlined that Georgia’s path toward Europe was not a matter of current politics but a “civilizational choice” rooted in the country’s history and identity.

“Georgia is Europe. We helped build Europe through our culture, art, history, and Christianity. Our aspiration toward Europe is our civilizational identity, and it has always been so. Georgia continues to contribute to Europe’s development and will always do so, because it is in our nature,” he said.

The ruling party MP further urged Brussels to respect the will of the Georgian people as expressed in the elections, saying that doing so would allow relations between Georgia and the European Union to return to normal.

“The ball is not in Georgia’s court. Everyone must acknowledge and respect the choice made by the Georgian people during the elections. Only then will it be possible to restore normal relations. We are speaking about Brussels here - with Italy, our relations have always been good. We value our partnership and stand alongside the Italian government and people in pursuit of our shared interests,” Turnava added.