“Different standards for their homes and for us” - Parliament Speaker on EU approach to Georgia

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said that a growing perception existed in Brussels and certain other capitals that when it came to values and standards, one set applies at home, while a lower “export standard” was reserved for so-called banana republics and the third world.

Papuashvili’s comment followed an article by Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, published on Thursday by Euronews under the title “Democracy is Europe’s First Line of Defence”.

Among other topics, Berset discussed foreign influence laws adopted in different countries worldwide.

The Secretary General noted that what was deemed unacceptable in Georgia or Hungary “should be judged by the same standards” in Germany or Romania, as double standards threatened Europe’s credibility.

“A notion is increasingly taking hold that in Brussels and some other capitals, when it comes to certain values and standards, there is a perception that one standard is meant for their own families, while a lower “export standard” is intended for so-called banana republics and the third world”, the Georgian Parliament Speaker said.

Papuashvili highlighted that while Berset’s position was indeed a “banal truth”, the problem lay in the fact that some in Brussels refused to acknowledge this truth.

“Once again, I am increasingly convinced that in Brussels and certain capitals, there is a perception that one standard applies to their own societies, while a different, lower standard is reserved for export - one intended for banana republics and third-world countries. This is how some view us, and we witness such attitudes daily”, he added.

The Speaker recalled a video he had shared, showing a person in Berlin throwing a flare that landed in a room and exploded. The individual was arrested and sentenced. In contrast, he noted, a similar incident in Tbilisi - where a flare was thrown into a room inside the Parliament building and exploded - prompted ambassadors, including those from countries such as Germany and France, to describe the event as a peaceful protest.

“So, when a room is blown up in Georgia, it is called peace; but in Germany, it is treated as an act of war. This goes beyond double standards - it shows that some do not consider us worthy of being treated according to normal standards”, Papuashvili noted.

“Once again, some still view us as a banana republic, part of the third world. That’s the attitude we face. It is unfortunate that in the 21st century there are political elites in Europe who still divide people, nations, and countries into different levels and categories”, Papuashvili concluded.