MEP Report Warns of Rapid Decline in Georgia, Papuashvili Criticizes 'Fascist' Rhetoric
By Messenger Staff
Thursday, February 26, 2026
A sharp diplomatic rift has emerged between the European Parliament and Georgian leadership following the presentation of a new report on Georgia's political situation. MEP Rasa Jukneviciene presented the report to the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on February 25, warning that the country's European path is moving in the "opposite" direction.
Jukneviciene described the situation as deteriorating "very quickly". She cited the Commission's 2025 report as the worst ever for a candidate country and noted that recent conclusions from the European Council suggest Georgia is now a candidate "in name only."
The MEP expressed "deep disappointment" that the ruling "Georgian Dream" party has failed to meet the nine priorities required for EU candidate status. She also highlighted a systematic anti-European campaign allegedly led by senior officials.
"This report highlights the importance of imposing targeted sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili and those responsible for democratic backsliding, electoral fraud, human rights violations, and the criminal prosecution of political opponents," Jukneviciene said.
Georgian Dream Parliament Speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, issued a harsh response to the report, dismissing it as having no value. He focused his criticism on Jukneviciene herself, accusing her of having a history of "fascist statements" regarding the Georgian people and their political choices.
Papuashvili referenced previous comments where the MEP reportedly called the ruling party an "infection" and blamed Georgian voters for the country's current trajectory. He argued that someone with such views should not be overseeing Georgian issues in the European Parliament.
"The report is prepared by a person who has made fascist statements regarding Georgia. Let me remind you, she [Rasa Jukneviciene] said that the Georgian Dream is an infection, and this is a fascist statement. She also said that it is the fault of the Georgian people, because they vote for the Georgian Dream," Papuashvili said.
The Speaker made it clear that the Georgian Dream government would not recognize the legitimacy of the report or the resolutions following it. "The papers of people with fascist statements will be torn and thrown away," Papuashvili stated.
