Georgian Parliament Speaker: in Finland people arrested for blocking roads, but in Georgia Finnish Foreign Minister did it herself

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said that the recent storming of the Presidential Palace was accompanied by “a wave of supportive statements” from Members of the European Parliament and other foreign politicians, alleging that the entire process was organised from abroad.

“The orders come from abroad. We saw the Finnish Foreign Minister, who blocked the road on Rustaveli Avenue. She didn’t just end up there by accident, it was part of sharing the assignment - to create this kind of discomfort for the residents of Tbilisi. So they are carrying out assignments, ready to go to prison just to fulfill the orders of foreigners. It's a sad reality that we observe regarding these groups, who have lost all connection to national interests and to the country itself”, the Speaker said.

“Meanwhile, in Finland, people are arrested for blocking roads, and here, the Finnish Foreign Minister herself blocked the road. We also saw an attempted storming of the presidential palace, and at the same time, supportive statements were being released by members of the European Parliament and various politicians. This was an ordinary plan - a coup written and directed from abroad - which failed”, 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 at least 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”.