Georgian Parliament Speaker: Brussels has strayed from European values and is sliding back to the Soviet Union

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday commented on the European Commission’s enlargement report, stressing that only Georgian voters have the right to judge their Government, and further accused Brussels of reviving Soviet-style tutelage by lecturing Tbilisi in the name of the Georgian people.

In his remarks, Papuashvili noted that in the past, it was Soviet Moscow that claimed the right to assess Georgia, but now certain post-Soviet politicians were speaking to the Georgian people in their name.

“We remember well who once had the claim to evaluate Georgia - the Soviet Moscow, which used to set us five-year plans and other goals. Now, they tell us about five points or set other kinds of plans. Everyone must understand that the fundamental principle of the international order is respect for the sovereignty of other nations. The lecturing tone with which some European Commissioners dare to address the Georgian people is unacceptable. When some post-Soviet politicians claim to speak on behalf of the Georgian people - when an elected representative of Estonia or another country speaks to us, Georgians, in our name - what could be more cynical or disrespectful to our independence than that?” he said.

The Speaker further noted that the Georgian Government had its own assessments regarding Brussels, and spoke about them openly.

“Therefore, of course, we have our own assessments regarding Brussels, and we speak about them openly - and we will further speak, because since Brussels has chosen such a confrontational tone and has taken on the role of curator and guardian of the Georgian people, they will hear a well-founded assessment of their actions from the Georgian people as well - that Brussels has completely strayed from European values and is heading directly backward, toward the Soviet Union”, Papuashvili concluded.