Shalva Papuashvili Compares German Support in Georgia to “Reichsbürger” – Lasha Bakradze Responds Firmly

That the Georgian government and its representatives sometimes surprise with bizarre comparisons is nothing new. But now Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has delivered a particularly remarkable example – even by Georgian standards.

In a recent Facebook post, Papuashvili wrote:

“In Germany, the government bans the so-called ‘Reichsbürger’ because they do not recognize the legitimacy of the elected government, create parallel structures, boycott state decisions, and claim that Germany is controlled by an occupying power. At the same time, this very German government funds groups in Georgia that do exactly the same: They deny the legitimacy of the Georgian government, build parallel structures, boycott decisions, hinder police operations, and claim Georgia is under foreign occupation. All of this is happening on the same planet.”

An accusation that not only seems absurd but, given Papuashvili’s own professional past, is deeply contradictory.

Lasha Bakradze Responds Clearly

Historian Lasha Bakradze, one of the most respected voices of Georgia’s civil society, responded swiftly and clearly:

“Is Mr. Papuashvili seriously claiming that the German government supports groups in Georgia comparable to Germany’s ‘Reichsbürger’? Does he understand the implications of such a statement? Or is he simply parroting a political narrative that cannot withstand reality?”

Bakradze, recently dismissed under controversial circumstances as Director of the Georgian National Literary Museum – a move widely viewed as politically motivated – represents precisely the kind of independent, democratic voices that are becoming increasingly rare in Georgia.

Papuashvili’s Past: From GIZ to “Georgian Dream”

Shalva Papuashvili is no stranger to Germany. From 2007 to 2015, he worked as team leader in the GIZ program supporting legal and judicial reforms in the South Caucasus, then as Deputy Program Manager for the project “Legal Approximation toward European Standards in the South Caucasus,” and later as head of the Georgian GIZ legal team until 2020.

It is therefore particularly paradoxical that someone who spent years promoting democratic values and the rule of law on behalf of a German state agency is now branding these very efforts as subversive.

Should the GIZ Take a Stand?

Papuashvili’s statements raise questions that the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) can no longer ignore:

• How does the GIZ assess the fact that former employees are publicly discrediting projects aimed at promoting democracy and the rule of law?

• What consequences will the organization draw when its former senior staff publicly undermine its stated goals?

A clear statement from the GIZ is not only appropriate, but long overdue – also in the interest of German taxpayers whose funds are at stake.

Why the “Reichsbürger” Comparison Is Dangerous

In Germany, “Reichsbürger” are recognized as radical, anti-state, and in some cases violent groups that reject the legitimacy of the German state. Papuashvili’s equation of such groups with NGOs peacefully and transparently advocating for democracy and human rights in Georgia is not only illogical – it is dangerous.

It creates the impression that Papuashvili is deliberately trying to discredit democratic organizations in order to silence dissent in Georgia. This approach is disturbingly reminiscent of autocratic regimes – the very systems Georgia once sought to leave behind.

Who’s Really Living in a Parallel World?

Papuashvili’s questionable comparison reveals one thing above all: Georgia’s political elite is increasingly living in a parallel world in which every critical voice is branded an enemy of the state. Rather than take responsibility, they prefer to nurture conspiracy theories.

Germany and the GIZ should take this as a wake-up call: It’s time to reevaluate their support strategy – and to draw clear boundaries about whom they empower and whom they don’t.

Because anyone who truly wants to defend democracy in Georgia needs strong partners – not political opportunists who bend democratic values at will.