The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don issued 425 convictions under Russia's "terrorism" laws in the first half of 2026, accounting for more than a third of all such rulings nationwide, according to a study by the human rights project First Department and the independent Parubets Analytics research centre.
Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili accused European leaders of using relations with Georgia as a political tool, leading to the current tensions.
"We are not happy with this. This situation must change," he said, calling on the EU to respect democracy and the rule of law.
Papuashvili reminded Brussels of its losses in international courts, where attempts to interfere in Georgia's affairs proved futile. He demanded an end to "political propaganda" and disinformation, emphasizing that only respect for the Georgian people and their choice can rectify the situation.
"Partnership is impossible where political narratives dominate instead of the truth. If the European Union truly wants to improve relations with Georgia, the path is simple: respect the Georgian people, respect their democratic choice, and respect the values that are called European. “There is simply no other way,” Papuashvili concluded.