Georgian Parliament Speaker rejects “colonial” attitudes toward Georgia in response to EU Ambassador remarks

Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday responded to recent remarks by EU Ambassador Paweł Herczyński, saying that while the ambassador may view the Georgian people’s past as “dark”, the real darkness in Georgia’s history has been foreign interference and repeated attempts to control the country “under the guise of embrace”.

In a social media message, Papuashvili noted that this pattern continues today as well.

“Those who speak about violence are the same who encouraged the events of October 4 violence. Those who warn about civil conflict are linked to groups that attack the church, the state, and human dignity” he said.

“Those who lecture Georgia on poverty are the same who are pulling the country into sanctions-related confrontation with Russia, which risks economic destruction and hardship. Those who speak of a “dark past” are attempting to justify a former regime during which human rights violations, racketeering, and torture were state policy”, the speaker continued.

Papuashvili emphasised that the “true face” of the Georgian people became clearly visible in 2024, describing them as a nation that determines its own destiny, defends its values, and follows its chosen path.

The speaker stressed that the will of the people was demonstrated through major national moments, including elections and public gatherings.

He referred to the 2024 elections, public mourning days following the Patriarch’s passing, adding that the people would once again be seen united on May 17 - “firm in their faith and identity”.

Papuashvili further criticised what he described as “talk about the people” from the ambassador’s side, calling it an example of political cynicism, especially in a context where violence is, in his view, being romanticised and its organisers glorified.

The speaker stated that Georgia remained ready for constructive dialogue, but said Brussels must take steps to improve relations, including:

• ending aggressive rhetoric toward Georgia
• stopping attacks on the elected government
• canceling hostile resolutions against the Georgian people.

He further noted that relations not based on respect cannot constitute partnership, and that real partnership is only possible when both sides treat each other as equals.

Papuashvili also rejected any notion of Georgia as a “peripheral colony”, stating that such an era was left in the past by the Georgian people.

“Everyone must respect us as a country, a state, and a nation. Georgia is not a peripheral colony that should be sacrificed to the interests of the metropolis. The Georgian people have consigned the era of ‘viceroys’ and ‘second secretaries’ to the ‘dark ages’”, the speaker concluded.