Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has that European Union membership would have no value for Georgia without Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, portraying the country’s European aspirations and territorial integrity as inseparable issues.

Papuashvili made the remarks while responding to recent statements by opposition figures concerning Georgia’s conflicts. He took particular issue with Gvaramia’s comparison between Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh, claiming that it implied Georgia could set aside the issue of its territories in pursuit of closer relations with Brussels.

According to Papuashvili, Gvaramia’s argument drew a parallel with Armenia, suggesting that giving up Karabakh had created greater opportunities for Yerevan to strengthen its ties with the EU. Papuashvili rejected such a framework for Georgia, maintaining that Abkhazia and Tskhinvali cannot be treated as a burden that should be abandoned for the sake of European integration. Papuashvili characterized Gvaramia’s comments about Georgians and Abkhazians as part of a broader political narrative, suggesting they formed part of an organized campaign rather than being isolated remarks.

Papuashvili described it as promoting the idea of “Georgia in the EU without Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.” He further alleged that the latter was being orchestrated from abroad and extended his argument to Ukraine and Moldova, emphasizing that similar proposals were being advanced in relation to territorial concessions in exchange for closer European integration.

In another recent statement, Papuashvili separately criticized Council of Europe support connected to the Tbilisi School of Political Studies and questioned whether financing activities involving politician Armaz Akhvlediani was compatible with promoting civil dialogue. The issue concerns a seminar held in Bakhmaro, while the State Audit Office has launched monitoring of the organization’s funding arrangements following an allegation that a grant was received without the required government approval.

Papuashvili traveled to Brussels on September 22 for an official visit accompanied by a Georgian Dream parliamentary delegation. He is scheduled to meet the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium’s Federal Parliament. The delegation includes Foreign Relations Committee Chair Nikoloz Samkharadze, European Integration Committee Chair Levan Makhashvili and Procedural Issues and Rules Committee Chair Davit Matikashvili.

The visit takes place as relations between the Georgian government and the EU remain strained, with disagreements over Georgian Dream’s rhetoric toward Western partners and concerns about democratic backsliding. Georgian Dream lawmakers have increasingly used engagements in European capitals to advocate renewed dialogue with EU institutions, even as Papuashvili continues to challenge European positions on Georgia’s domestic political environment.