“Shalva Papuashvili should talk less about khinkali and more about European integration – these are baseless accusations,” stated Levan Sanikidze, one of the leaders of the “Unity – National Movement,” while commenting on the statement by the Speaker of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, in which he addresses foreign diplomats accredited in Georgia.

According to Sanikidze, calling for a fair electoral environment and the protection of human rights does not constitute interference in the country’s internal affairs.

“I don’t know how to respond to this man. If they call it interference when we are urged to ensure a fair electoral environment in the country, to protect human rights, to prevent election fraud, to stop political persecution, and to refrain from raiding and vandalizing the offices of political opponents, I don’t think this is interference.

Where have diplomats been seen at rallies before elections? These are baseless accusations. The country is not allowing the OSCE’s crucial long-term mission, which was supposed to monitor the so-called electoral process. A pure Russian special operation is being conducted, where even if falsification is needed, proving that falsification will be impossible. [Shalva Papuashvili] should talk less about khinkali and more about European integration,” Sanikidze stated.

Sanikidze also responded to the statement by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which announced that it has started reviewing the asset declaration of Mamuka Khazaradze, one of the leaders of “Lelo – Strong Georgia.”

According to Sanikidze, “at a time when an unimaginable struggle is underway within ‘Georgian Dream’ over whose pocket the stolen money will end up in and how these corrupt schemes will be transferred from Irakli Gharibashvili to Irakli Kobakhidze, scrutinizing someone else’s declaration is, in my view, simply immoral.”

For reference, the Speaker of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, published a post on social media addressing foreign diplomats accredited in Georgia, urging them to “respect the Vienna Convention and the right of the Georgian people to make their choice without foreign interference.” According to Papuashvili, the local self-government elections “will be a test of who respects the sovereignty of the Georgian people and who only respects khinkali.”