Vice Parliament Speaker accuses Western ambassadors of undermining Georgian sovereignty

Georgia’s Vice Parliament Speaker, Thea Tsulukiani, on Friday accused “most foreign ambassadors” of disrespecting the country’s sovereignty and backing jailed former president Mikheil Saakashvili.

Speaking during a session of the parliamentary temporary investigative commission probing alleged crimes under Saakashvili’s United National Movement between 2003-2012, which she chairs, Tsulukiani praised Georgian Dream’s ongoing policies, claiming they were laying the groundwork for “true independence” from foreign influence.

“We are slowly moving towards a point where the sovereignty and independence of our country, we hope, thanks to this policy... will acquire real meaning,” she said.

Tsulukiani went on to criticise the diplomatic community, asserting that from 2012 onwards, “with only rare exceptions”, ambassadors had supported Saakashvili - whom she described as the "main creator and executioner of the regime”.

“The opinion of a foreign ambassador sent here will not be of any interest at all regarding the internal affairs of the country,” she added, expressing hope that future Georgian leaders would govern without outside interference.