“Impossible for Europe”: Georgian Parliament Speaker slams calls to release “torture-system dictator” Saakashvili

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has strongly criticised calls for the release of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, stating that “it's impossible for Europe to be there where they demand the release from punishment of a dictator who created a system of torture”.

In a social media message, Papuashvili noted that such demands represent a form of “political clientelism” that distances the European Union from its fundamental values.

He emphasised that core European principles include respect for human rights and the rule of law.

“It's impossible for Europe to be where they demand the release from punishment of a dictator who created a system of torture. Political clientelism distances the European Union from basic European values such as respect for human rights and the rule of law”, the Speaker noted.