Georgian Parliament Speaker backs Donald Trump’s view on violent demonstrations

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday highlighted violent protests as the “enemy of democracy”.

Papuashvili responded to a statement by the US President Donald Trump, who said that “when activists damage civil infrastructure and throw stones at police, it is not a protest but a criminal offence”.

“Today, the world agrees that violent protest is the enemy of democracy. On this backdrop, chanting ‘EU supports Elene’ [in reference to the opposition leader Elene Khoshtaria who was detained for damaging campaign banners of Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze] means choosing the side of violence. Brussels must return to fundamental European values - the rule of law and respect for human rights”, the Speaker noted.

The Georgian Interior Ministry on Monday arrested the opposition leader Elene Khoshtaria for damaging campaign banners of Kakha Kaladze, the ruling Georgian Dream party's candidate for Tbilisi Mayor.