Georgian Parliament Speaker: EU-backed rally featured open calls for Gov’t “overthrow”

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday criticised the European Union for funding a rally where radical groups openly called for the Government’s overthrow and punishment of officials.

In a social media message, Papuashvili noted that it was alarming that the EU Embassy, through such actions, was ultimately linking the European Union with extremism in the eyes of the Georgian people.

“Attention must be paid to the fact that yesterday’s rally by radicals - during which self-proclaimed “fighters” publicly pledged to “overthrow” the Government and “punish everyone” - was funded by the European Union”, he said.

“It is alarming that, through such actions, the EU Embassy is ultimately linking the European Union with extremism in the eyes of the Georgian people”, the Speaker concluded.