“Walls for Georgians, bridges for terrorists”: Georgian Parliament Speaker denounces EU mission in Georgia for sending supportive letter to convicted mass violence organiser before coup attempt

Newly surfaced information reveals that just days before the attempted coup in Georgia on October 4, the European Union (EU) mission in the country sent a letter of support to Zviad Tsetskhladze, one of the organizers of last year’s mass violence, who is currently serving a prison sentence.

Video evidence, which forms part of Tsetskhladze’s ongoing criminal case, appears to show correspondence with the EU mission. The footage includes references to preparations for violent actions, such as “let’s remember the Maidan”, “assemble the shields”, “build the barricades”, “stretch the barbed wires”, “spread the nails”, and “purchase the pyrotechnics”.

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, commenting on the matter, noted that while diplomatic missions were traditionally tasked with building bridges, in this case, “the walls are being erected for the Georgian people, and the bridges are being built for violent terrorists”.

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Papuashvili further criticised what he described as “Brussels’s anti-Georgian ways”, suggesting that the EU’s actions may have crossed into the support of domestic terrorists.

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”.