Georgian Parliament Speaker says EU failed to condemn violence when Lazare Grigoriadis attacked police officer with Molotov cocktail

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday responded to a European Union statement condemning violent protests in Albania and France, questioning why Brussels had not issued similar statements regarding Georgia.

In his remarks, Papuashvili noted that the groups involved in the violence in Georgia, along with Brussels and its “tentacles”, were themselves behind these incidents.

“We saw EU statements regarding Albania and France condemning violent demonstrations. We had called on the EU, and I personally called on the EU Ambassador, to condemn violence. Apparently, they are capable of doing so”, he said.

Papuashvili added that the problem is that the EU should have issued an identical statement on June 20, 2019, but failed to do so.

“We did not hear it in 2020, following the elections, when the United National Movement attacked the Central Election Commission. We should have heard it in March 2021, when the United National Movement and Nika Melia barricaded themselves inside their party office. At the time, we saw EU ambassadors visiting them and encouraging this violence”, the Speaker said.

“We did not hear it in June 2022, when EU-funded non-governmental organisations attempted to overthrow the government during a rally. We did not hear it in March 2023, when Lazare Grigoriadis was burning a police officer with a Molotov cocktail. We did not hear it in May 2024, when we witnessed violence and Molotov cocktails on Rustaveli Avenue during the adoption of the Law on Transparency in Parliament”, he continued.

Papuashvili further highlighted that the EU’s condemnation was also absent in November 2024, following the elections, when EU representatives and members of parliament from various countries came to Georgia and called on people to follow the Maidan scenario.

“Nor did we hear it on October 4, 2025, when a crowd incited by the European Commission spokesperson attempted to seize the presidential palace”, he added.

Papuashvili noted that the EU had numerous opportunities to condemn violent protests in Georgia but had never done so.

“Now the question arises: why did we hear such a statement regarding France, Albania and Italy, but not Georgia?” he said.

“I think the answer is simple: because these groups themselves, Brussels and its ‘tentacles’, were behind the violence. People funded by them have been involved since June 20. People funded by EU funds are the perpetrators of violence who attempted to storm and set fire to the presidential palace and Parliament, and who threw Molotov cocktails and stones at police officers”, the Speaker continued.

Papuashvili added that the EU Ambassador and the European Commission could not condemn the October 5 events without condemning themselves, saying they bore full responsibility for what happened.

“Precisely because they sowed the wind in Georgia, they reaped the whirlwind in the EU. The consequences will catch up with everyone who supports and finances violence, and Brussels is a good example of this”, he concluded.