Papuashvili Accuses Gvaramia of Seeking Profit From Ukraine War
By Messenger Staff
Friday, July 17, 2026
Georgian Dream Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili accused opposition politician Nika Gvaramia of viewing Ukraine's reconstruction efforts as a financial opportunity, saying such comments reveal the motives behind calls for Georgia to become involved in the war.
Commenting on Gvaramia's statement that Georgia would miss out on the trillions expected to be spent on rebuilding Ukraine after the war, Papuashvili said linking financial benefits to war showed a lack of moral responsibility.
"First and foremost, this is self-exposure as to why they wanted to drag Georgia into the war-they were seeking financial gain from it," Papuashvili told journalists.
He argued that international assistance to Ukraine comes mainly in the form of loans rather than unconditional aid, which he said would create a long-term financial burden for the Ukrainian people.
"Nothing being given to Ukraine today is a gift. All of it is loans that will become a heavy burden on the Ukrainian people," Papuashvili said.
He also accused opposition figures of having a similar approach after the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, claiming they benefited from foreign funds while leaving the country with financial obligations.
"These are the people who, after the 2008 war, were exploiting funds received in precisely this way, and apparently they generally have this kind of parasitic approach toward the interests of their own country," he said.
Papuashvili said genuine support for Ukraine would involve direct involvement in defending the country rather than focusing on financial assistance.
"Selflessness would mean going and fighting alongside Ukrainians. It would mean defending Europe's borders at the cost of their own lives," he said.
He further claimed that bringing Georgia into the war would have left the country facing both physical destruction and financial dependence.
"War means destruction, while the promised funds mean putting the country in a binding financial situation," Papuashvili said. "A country that would be both devastated and financially dependent on another country under onerous conditions."
