Georgia’s ruling party official: EU’s silence on Presidential Palace storming encourages radicalism, polarisation in Georgia

Levan Machavariani, the First Deputy Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Wednesday criticised the European Union for failing to condemn the violent storming of the Georgian Presidential Palace, arguing that Brussels’ silence promoted radicalism and societal polarisation.

Responding to remarks by Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili about the lack of EU reaction four months after the attack on the President’s Palace, Machavariani said that the EU’s agenda was effectively encouraging radicalism in Georgia.

“We do not expect [any statement from Brussels], because unfortunately their agenda is to encourage radicalism in Georgia and to promote polarisation in society. They should have made a statement, at the very least to distance themselves from all of this”, he said.

The official stressed that the European Union could have issued a simple statement condemning the violence, but their inaction instead fosters division.

“They could have simply said that all of this was un-European, but instead, we see silence - which in itself encourages these actions”, Machavariani concluded.

On October 4, 2025, 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 five opposition figures, including Paata Burchuladze. They are now facing charges of plotting to overthrow the Government - a potential offence 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”.