Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili has accused the European Union of encouraging radicalism in Georgia and attempting to change the country’s government from the outside.
Speaking to journalists, Papuashvili said that what Georgia is currently witnessing is not a radical domestic opposition, but what he described as a “radical Brussels.”
“Today we actually have not a radical opposition, but a radical Brussels, which is trying to change the government in Georgia from the outside,” Papuashvili said. “It appears that the regime-change manuals have now been handed over to Europe, and they are asking which page they have reached. Fortunately, they are bad students.”
Parliament Speaker claimed that it is evident that the European Union’s goal is to encourage what he described as violence, radicalism, extremism, disinformation, and propaganda against Georgia. Papuashvili also claimed that European funding stands behind radical and violent groups in the country.
“Behind every radical, propagandist, and violent group there is European money,” he said.
Papuashvili referred to a recent visit by a delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, stating that the delegation delivered two main messages: condemnation of attempts to violently overthrow state institutions and criticism of the boycott of elections and parliamentary work.
He claimed that these points were clearly stated by the OSCE delegation, and he questioned why similar statements had not been made by the European Union.
“I want to ask the EU Ambassador — is it difficult to say this simple truth that storming the President’s palace is not allowed?” Papuashvili said. “Why is it so hard to say that withdrawing parliamentary mandates and leaving parliament is not democracy?”
He argued that European officials are deliberately avoiding such statements because, in his view, they do not want to withdraw the legitimacy they have granted to radical political forces.
“In reality, nothing is difficult for them. They know it very well and are deliberately doing this so as not to withdraw the legitimacy they have given to radicalism,” Papuashvili said.
The Parliament Speaker further claimed that external actors are attempting to implement what he described as violent scenarios in Georgia aimed at changing the government.
“What the United States refused to do, its new administration, has now been fully taken over by Europe,” Papuashvili said.
He also referred to events on October 4, which he described as an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the government that, according to him, was supported from abroad.
Papuashvili added that statements by representatives of the European Commission in support of public gatherings on that day demonstrated external backing for the protests.
“Once again, the question to the EU Ambassador and Brussels is simple — is it difficult to say these two simple sentences?” Papuashvili said. “This says a lot about many things.”
