“Ask US administration”: Georgian Parliament Speaker slams EU over human rights, rule of law record

Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday criticised what he described as double standards in European politics, stating that recent developments, including what he called an attack on Imedi TV from London, raise questions about the rule of law and media freedom.

Speaking on Imedi TV show Open Air - Debates, Papuashvili advised critics to ask the current US administration how much today’s Brussels truly upholds human rights and the rule of law, suggesting the answer would be revealing.

“You can ask that question to the current administration of the United States, and they will tell us how much today’s Brussels stands for human rights and the rule of law”, he said.

The speaker cited what he described as an attempt to pressure or shut down Imedi TV from London as an example of actions that contradict the principles of media freedom and legal due process.

“As for what Brussels stands for, unfortunately in this regard the administration of the United States is also right when it speaks about a civilisational collapse or abyss. Even the attack on Imedi TV from London - if we take the capital as an example - is good proof of this. Where do you see the rule of law here, legal procedures? Where do you see the protection of media freedom? Where do you see any principle that we were told for so long is part of all this?”, Papuashvili noted.

He further stressed that decisions taken through political pressure rather than legal procedures undermine the rule of law.

“Arbitrary actions and violations of the rule of law are exactly when, through a political decision and without legal procedures or a court, you try to shut down a media outlet”, the speaker concluded.