Georgian Parliament official slams “hypocritical” opposition and “silent” Eurocrats after Patriarch’s passing

Levan Machavariani, the first deputy chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Sunday slammed the domestic radical opposition and certain international figures, accusing them of hypocrisy and a lack of respect during Georgia’s period of national mourning over the passing of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Machavariani noted that those Eurocrats, who remained silent throughout these days and did not utter a single word of condolence, have been exposed, and the citizens of Georgia have seen them for the hypocrites they are.

“Those Eurocrats, who remained silent throughout these days - despite pretending to care so much about Georgia's fate and lining up to comment on every single step we take - did not utter a single word of condolence. They, too, have been exposed, and our citizens have seen that they are hypocrites who do not actually care about Georgia’s future”, the official said.

Machavariani further criticised remarks made by US Congressman Joe Wilson during the days of mourning in Georgia, describing them as inappropriate at a time when “the entire nation is united” in paying respects to the Catholicos-Patriarch.

He further claimed that such statements indicated a disconnect from developments in Georgia, alleging that “wealthy NGO representatives and the radical opposition” act as their “agents”.

The official further assessed the Georgian prime minister’s address at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Budapest, stating that the platform was used to speak about the Patriarch and to show the world “what a dignified Patriarch Georgia had”.

Machavariani additionally commented on remarks by Michael Roth, the former chair of the foreign affairs committee of the German Bundestag, criticising his past remarks related to the Georgian Orthodox Church.

“We clearly remember how Michael Roth was idolised by the radical opposition, and the kind of insult he directed at the Patriarchate and our faith, while absolutely no one spoke out or distanced themselves. We also recall well whom [the opposition-leaning] TV Pirveli and Formula TV invited on air - individuals who openly insulted the Patriarch and were given airtime. We further remember the campaign by the NGO Shame Movement - ‘The Patriarchate Stinks’ - which was directly funded by the European Union and covered by TV Pirveli and Formula TV”, he said.

“If a certain segment of the radical opposition claims they do not share these views, then why did they not distance themselves from Michael Roth or from opposition media outlets? And when appearing in those media, why did they not state on the spot that such remarks were unacceptable to them? They are all guided by the same vertical, and even if they thought differently, they would not have the freedom to express it”, he concluded.