Georgian Parliament official accuses ALDE of attacking Georgian authorities instead of condemning terrorism

Gia Volski, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party and the First Vice Speaker of the Parliament, on Thursday said that Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party’s (ALDE) recent statement amounted to an attack on Georgia, instead of condemning terrorism or the spreading of disinformation.

In his remarks, Volski noted that the same individuals previously visited Georgia and urged the public to embrace extremism.

“Instead of condemning terrorism, instead of condemning disinformation, they attacked us, suggesting that terrorism may not be entirely acceptable for them, but that we somehow ‘deserve’ it”, he said.

“These are the same people who came here and told the assembled crowd that extremism is necessary and that Georgia must undergo ‘Ukrainization’. With this statement, ALDE once again confirmed the direction in which they are pushing us”, Volski concluded.

Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili had been calling almost daily on ALDE - the political family to which the opposition Lelo party belongs - to comment on the terrorist act committed by Aleko Elisashvili.

The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has filed charges against Aleksandre Elisashvili, one of the leaders of the opposition Lelo party, for an attempted act of terrorism in the Tbilisi City Court.

Responding to a journalist’s question, Papuashvili on Monday stated that “ten days have passed since we witnessed a terrorist act, and there has been no reaction. We can now consider it a fact that ALDE is a party alliance collaborating with a terrorist”.

ALDE on Thursday stated that it does not justify Elisashvili’s actions.

“Of course, ALDE does not justify such actions. Just as we would never justify the use of force against peaceful protesters”, ALDE said.