It is a great honor for me to represent my country before you, the Georgian people, who bravely fight for the European flag and the values on which the European project was founded — a project of peace and prosperity — one colleague asked me why there is no delegation from “Georgian Dream.” Because they do not want to hear the truth, — said Tina Bokuchava, Chairwoman of the United National Movement, in her speech at EuroNest.

She went on to say that while Armenia and Azerbaijan have taken historic steps and opened unprecedented opportunities to achieve sustainable peace in the South Caucasus and prosperity for their peoples, Georgia is becoming an autocratic dead end and a strategic foothold for Europe’s rivals for economic and political influence.

“Dear colleagues,

It is a great honor for me to represent my country before you — the Georgian people, who bravely fight for the European flag and the values on which the European project was founded — a project of peace and prosperity.

One colleague asked me why there is no delegation from ‘Georgian Dream.’ Because they do not want to hear the truth. The truth is as follows:

When Moldova, through its parliamentary elections, showed that Europe can prevail over Russia, and when Ukraine shows every day that it is truly worth fighting for Europe, Georgia — once the leading country of the Associated Trio — has become a one-party dictatorship that is abandoning the path of European integration and falling into Putin’s arms.

While Armenia and Azerbaijan have taken historic steps and opened unprecedented opportunities to achieve sustainable peace in the South Caucasus and prosperity for their peoples, Georgia is becoming an autocratic dead end and a strategic foothold for Europe’s rivals for economic and political influence.

When Europe thinks about strengthening connections between regions, we must acknowledge the fact that economic integration is impossible when the social fabric is being systematically and violently torn apart by a regime that no longer reflects the aspirations of its people, when families are being torn apart and driven into terror through mass arrests and intimidation.

Today in Georgia — once renowned for reforms and democratic transformation — there are more political prisoners per capita than even in Putin’s Russia.

Most political leaders are in prison;

the largest opposition parties are being banned through a sham constitutional process;

peaceful protesters are being jailed merely for carrying the European flag;

draconian laws and mass terror have effectively made civil society activity illegal;

journalists have become targets;

and now, in a new wave of repression, the regime has set its sights on higher education institutions to control academic circles, to crush critical voices, and to silence dissent.

But freedom-loving Georgians will not be silenced! We will not give up! And we will fight while there is still time!

These are the words of Mzia Amaghlobeli — a true symbol of the Georgian people’s struggle for European integration, an independent female journalist imprisoned by the regime.

The European Parliament’s decision to award her, together with Andrzej Poczobut, the 2025 Sakharov Prize is the greatest recognition of her and the Georgian people’s fight against tyranny and injustice.

I would like to thank you on behalf of all freedom-loving Georgians for this incredible recognition.

Action is also needed from the EU member states:

international financial institutions should stop funneling EU taxpayers’ money into the corrupt pockets of Georgia’s autocratic ruler and his cronies;

they should suspend visa-free travel for Ivanishvili and those close to him;

sanctions should be directed at the regime, not at citizens, and this should be done immediately.

Europe’s inaction on Georgia amounts to encouragement of it in Ukraine, Moldova and here in Armenia, where our dear hosts have taken historic steps toward democratization.

Action is not only a moral imperative but a pragmatic one for the safety and well-being of us and our citizens.

Thank you very much for this opportunity.

Together we are stronger, and today’s important session is proof of that,” Bokuchava concluded.