In recent years, we have witnessed a deliberate campaign that strives to separate the Georgian government from the Georgian people. Be it issues related to European integration, Russia's invasion of Ukraine or internal political reforms, some foreign and Georgian political forces, non-governmental organizations and individuals try to present the interests of the government as separate from the interests of the people.

This became especially noticeable on the example of Georgia's application to join the European Union, - it is said in the statement of the Speaker of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili.

As the Chairman of the Parliament notes, the call "Give the status of EU candidate to the Georgian people, not to the Georgian government" has become the unifying motto of this diverse political group. According to him, this practice is not new for those who are familiar with Russia's hybrid war style.

According to him, it is a pity that some of our foreign partners and foreign-funded Georgian non-governmental organizations use this tactic against the Georgian government.

"The tactics of virtual separation of the democratic government of Georgia from the Georgian people correspond to Russian hybrid methods. In recent years, we have witnessed a deliberate campaign of separation of the Georgian government from the Georgian people.

Be it issues related to European integration, Russia's invasion of Ukraine or internal political reforms, some foreign and Georgian political forces, non-governmental organizations and individuals try to present the interests of the government as separate from the interests of the people.

This became especially noticeable on the example of Georgia's application for joining the European Union. The call, "Give the status of EU candidate to the Georgian people and not to the Georgian government" - became the unifying motto of this diverce political group.

This practice is not new for those familiar with Russia's hybrid warfare. Using government delegitimization as a tool for political subversion used to be a prominent tactic of the Soviet regime and the current Russian government appears to be using it enthusiastically.

To this day, Russian President Putin sends holiday greetings to the Georgian people separately from the government. The radical wing of the Georgian opposition has adopted this tactic, and many times even relatively moderate political parties fell under its influence.

It should be noted that this is not a mere coincidence. Some of the most radical members of the Georgian opposition studied at Soviet and Russian "educational" institutions run by the State Security Committee of the Soviet Union: among them former President Mikheil Saakashvili and Droa leader Elene Khoshtaria.

It's a pity that some of our foreign partners and Georgian non-governmental organizations funded from abroad use this tactic against the Georgian government", says Shalva Papuashvili.