Georgian Parliament Speaker warns of “torrent of hatred” targeting “State and Church”

Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday said the country was facing “a wave of hatred” directed against both the state and the Church, accusing radical groups and their foreign backers of fueling tensions.

Speaking to journalists, Papuashvili said society should remain vigilant, claiming that the campaign targeting the Church follows the same pattern as attacks against the state.

“There is no real opposition”, Papuashvili said. “In reality, we should not focus on specific opposition figures in this case. We should see their foreign sponsors behind them. The same line that has been operating against the state is now being activated against the Church, and it is important for our society to stay alert”.

He further alleged that foreign actors were encouraging anti-state and anti-Church activities in Georgia.

“We will now witness a torrent of hatred that will inevitably be directed against the Church alongside the state”, he said. “We should carefully observe who supports these people, which capitals they visit, in the corridors of which foreign public institutions they walk, which embassies they visit, and which ambassadors they shake hands with”.

Papuashvili added that “foreigners whom we accepted as brothers and friends” are now attempting to weaken both the Georgian state and the Church.

“It is by their encouragement, their instructions, and their orders that these people are acting”, he concluded.