Georgian Parliament Speaker: some EU capitals backed violent groups yesterday - today ALDE group member party leader tried to carry out terrorist act

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday criticised European Union capitals after the attempted arson of the Tbilisi City Court chancellery, carried out by the domestic opposition leader Aleko Elisashvili.

In a social media message, Papuashvili reacted to the incident, linking the criminal act to recent statements made by several EU capitals in support of what he referred to as domestic “violent groups”.

“Yesterday we heard statements from some capitals of the European Union supporting violent groups. Today, a leader of a party that is a member of the ALDE group, attempted to carry out a terrorist act. Welcome to the value-filled European Union”, Papuashvili said.

The Georgian Interior Ministry on Saturday reported that Aleksandre Elisashvili, one of the leaders of the opposition Strong Georgia - Lelo coalition, has been detained after attempting to set fire to the Tbilisi City Court chancellery.