Georgian Parliament Speaker criticises German Government for “double standards” in handling political groups

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday accused the German Government of hypocrisy, claiming it was funding anti-Government groups in Georgia while banning similar movements within its own borders.

In a social media post, Papuashvili compared the German Government's recent ban on the so-called “Reichsbürger” group with its support for certain civil society organisations in Georgia.

“In Germany, the German government bans the so-called Reichsbürger group on the grounds that they do not recognise the legitimacy of Germany’s elected Government, create parallel governmental structures, boycott government decisions, obstruct the work of the police, and claim that Germany is governed by an occupying force”, the Speaker said.

Papuashvili pointed out that Berlin outlawed the Reichsbürger movement due to its refusal to recognise the legitimacy of the German state, its creation of parallel Government structures, and its obstruction of law enforcement.

“In Georgia, the German Government funds groups that do not recognise the legitimacy of Georgia’s elected Government, create parallel governmental structures, boycott Government decisions, obstruct police work, and claim that Georgia is governed by an occupying force. This is happening at the same time and on the same planet”, he concluded.