Georgian Parliament Speaker slams European Commission spokesperson’s remarks as “absolute disaster”

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said the statement by the European Commission spokesperson, expressing solidarity with the October 4 Government overthrow event organised by the United National Movement and its leader Levan Khabeishvili, was an “absolute disaster”.

In his remarks, Papuashvili noted that this was a direct sharing of responsibility for the possible violence that would result from the rally organised by the United National Movement party.

“The spokesperson of the European Commission comes out and, in response to a question regarding the October 4 rally, instead of saying that it is election day, it is important that everyone participates, goes to the polls, instead we hear from the geographical Brussels that this particular spokesperson is expressing solidarity with the Government overthrow rally announced by Levan Khabeishvili and the United National Movement party”, the Speaker said.

“What we have read in these words is an absolute value disaster. This is a direct sharing of responsibility for the possible violence that will result from the rally. I want this statement from yesterday to be well remembered by all Georgians and foreigners. If there is any violence on October 4, if someone throws even one stone at the police, if there is even one act of violence, the European Commission, represented by its spokesperson, shares responsibility for this violence with yesterday's statement”, he continued.

The Speaker further added that the European Commission must understand that Georgia as well as the lives and health of Georgians were not Brussel’s toy.