Georgian Parliament Speaker pledges to keep raising October 4 coup attempt issue

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday vowed to continue raising the issue of the October 4 coup attempt, saying that all foreign actors who supported the storming of the Georgian President’s residence share political responsibility for the ensuing violence.
In his remarks, Papuashvili noted that until European politicians publicly condemn the events of October 4, the Georgian Government will not accept any criticism from them.

“Until we hear a clear condemnation from every European who holds an EU passport of the attempted overthrow of Georgia’s Government, not a single complaint or demand from them will be heard. Every such claim will be met with the reminder of their deafening silence regarding the attempted coup of October 4”, the Speaker said.

Papuashvili added that this silence exposes an uncomfortable truth - that condemnation would amount to an admission of their own complicity in supporting the violent actions and a premeditated plan to overthrow the government.

The Speaker also criticised Western diplomats for not checking on the injured police officers - including two who were seriously injured - during the attack.

“Everyone from abroad who on October 4 was supporting the storming of the Georgian President’s residence, all of them bear political responsibility for the violence that occurred in Georgia. To this day, those outspoken ambassadors have not even inquired about the police officers who were injured as a result of that assault”, he concluded.

On October 4, large-scale protests in Tbilisi escalated into a dramatic confrontation, as a group of radical demonstrators tried to storm the presidential palace. The unrest occurred on the same day Georgia held municipal elections.

Authorities detained five opposition figures, including Paata Burchuladze. They are now facing charges of plotting to overthrow the government - a potential offense that could carry lengthy prison sentences.

Government officials described the events as a failed coup attempt orchestrated with foreign backing. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called the protests “an attempted overthrow of the constitutional order”.