Georgia's Parliament Speaker links EU membership to territorial integrity

Georgian Parliament Speaker Salome Papuaschvili has stated that European Union membership would hold no value for Georgia if the country does not include the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and Zhinvali. Papuaschvili emphasized that the nation's territorial integrity and its European aspirations are inseparable, rejecting suggestions that Georgia should set aside territorial disputes to facilitate closer ties with Brussels.

Papuaschvili criticized opposition politicians for comparing the Abkhazian situation to Nagorno-Karabakh, arguing that such comparisons imply Georgia could sacrifice its territories for EU integration. He further alleged that efforts to promote a version of Georgia within the EU that excludes these regions are being orchestrated from abroad, drawing parallels to similar political narratives in Ukraine and Moldova.

In a related context, analysts from Abkhazia have observed that the status of the region is increasingly being used as a political tool by the Georgian opposition to challenge the ruling Georgian Dream party. These analysts suggest that international focus on Abkhazia's status is often driven by a desire to weaken Russian influence rather than solely by peace initiatives, noting that increased pressure may hinder diplomatic settlements.