Georgian Parliament official says Congressman Wilson’s stance blurs line between free speech and hate speech

Levan Makhashvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on European Integration, on Wednesday questioned the motives behind US Congressman Joe Wilson’s latest statement, asking what Wilson or those directing his political activity were seeking to achieve.

Makhashvili's comments came after Wilson said on social media that the Georgian Dream Government was “destroying freedom of speech”. The congressman is currently working on legislation that, according to him, is intended to counter what he described as “woke censorship”.

Makhashvili argued that Wilson failed to distinguish between freedom of speech and offensive language, accusing him of supporting hate speech in Georgia's political discourse.

“Many people are probably asking: what does Joe Wilson actually want, or, more importantly, what do those behind him – the people who are really directing this political activity – want? He wants hate speech and insults to remain part of public and political discourse in Georgia.I am convinced they fully understand what the Georgian authorities are doing, our efforts are aimed at reducing polarisation and ensuring that hate speech is no longer considered normal”, he noted.

“We are talking here about preventing hate speech and insults, not about restricting freedom of speech, the expression of opinions, analysis or public debate.These are the very forces that introduced hatred into Georgian politics and turned it into the norm, ultimately laying the foundation for polarisation and radicalisation.Fortunately, with the support and direct mandate of the Georgian people, they will not realise this American dream”, Makhashvili concluded.