Georgian Parliament Speaker criticises Swedish Ambassador for not explaining Government’s position on EU path

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday sharply criticised the Swedish Ambassador and Embassy, accusing them of failing to fulfill the core diplomatic function of representing their Government’s position.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson had recently stated that as part of Ukraine’s EU integration process, the country must ensure full legal protection for same-sex partnerships and the LGBT community.

“We saw the position of the Swedish Prime Minister, who clearly stated that for Ukraine’s progress toward EU membership, it is essential to legalise LGBT marriage. He said it directly, clearly, and unambiguously”, the Speaker said.

“So the question to the Swedish Ambassador is simple - to explain his Government’s position. Was this a slip of the tongue by the Prime Minister, or is this Sweden’s official policy when assessing candidate countries’ progress? And does it also apply to Georgia?” Papuashvili asked.

He further stressed that it was the Ambassador’s responsibility to provide clarity on such matters.

“Instead of doing that, the Swedish Embassy is busy taking photos at court hearings of individuals charged with acts of violence, flaunting their presence, and financing extremist NGOs. This undermines the very foundation of diplomatic missions and the idea of representation”, he continued.

“Rather than responding to the Georgian people’s questions and explaining Sweden’s position, the Embassy remains silent and openly supports extremists”, Papuashvili concluded.