Georgian Parliament Speaker says “silence, indifference, inaction” main preconditions that made Holocaust possible

Silence, indifference, and inaction were precisely the main preconditions that made the Holocaust possible, the Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said on Monday at an event dedicated to the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

In his address, Papuashvili said that the country must not tolerate any manifestation of hatred, must not normalize it, and must not believe that hostility could bring about anything good.

“Today we commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day and join the entire civilized world, for which this day represents the peak of criminality that humanity experienced in the twentieth century. The extermination of six million Jews is an indelible tragedy that shook Europe and permanently burdened the collective consciousness of humanity. This is the memory of innocent people who became targets of destruction solely because they belonged to a particular ethnic group. It was a denial of humanity, a devaluation of life, and an attempt at the self-destruction of civilization. No political circumstance can overshadow the pain inflicted upon the Jewish people, families, and civilization. That is why every year we commemorate the victims of genocide and recall both the victims and the scale of the tragedy, as well as the circumstances that allowed such brutality to occur. No political circumstance can overshadow the pain inflicted upon the Jewish people, families, and civilization. That is why every year we commemorate the victims of genocide and recall both the victims and the scale of the tragedy, as well as the circumstances that allowed such brutality to occur”, the Speaker said.

“We live in a rapidly changing and dynamic world. Generations change, memory changes, and everyday life covers the wounds of the past. History becomes compressed, lessons fade into oblivion, and new generations struggle to comprehend the essence of the past. Tragedy is reduced to a single word or phrase, loses its magnitude, and becomes instrumentalized according to the needs of current political discourse”, he continued.

He emphasised that Holocaust Remembrance Day must not be merely a symbolic gesture but a moment of loud reminder and a clear statement, to describe precisely and by name what happened, why it happened, what allowed this evil to occur, and what consequences it brought to humanity.

“Speaking about the victims of the past remains important today, because we clearly see a number of developments that remind us of that era, when arrogance, hatred, violence, revenge, and the demonization of difference gave rise to a methodical and sophisticated machine for the destruction of an entire nation - a machine that required the shedding of immense blood to be stopped”, he noted.

Papuashvili also highlighted the contribution of Georgians to the defeat of fascism, noting that discord, hostility, and hatred could never possess any form of legitimacy, nor could their instigators ever be justified.

“The contribution of Georgians was also significant in defeating this evil. We are proud not only of the victory that came with the defeat of fascism, but also of our national consciousness, which accepts diversity, welcomes all guests, and shows compassion toward the weak and the oppressed.

He further added that this was the value-based foundation that preserved the human face of the Georgian public even during the most difficult periods of history and, in this context, he recalled granting the status of intangible cultural heritage of national significance to the 26-century-long tradition of Georgian–Jewish relations six years ago.

“This relationship will continue for many centuries to come and will endure as long as this world exists. This is our loud and confirmed statement. We are clear and direct when it comes to values, humanism, traditions, and ideals. We speak about this within our country and call for the same beyond our borders, wherever we see regression”, the Speaker said.

“We must remember that silence, indifference, and inaction were precisely the main preconditions that made the Holocaust possible. We must not tolerate any manifestation of hatred, must not normalize it, and must not believe that hostility can bring about anything good. Discord, animosity, and hatred can never be healthy, and there can be no justification for those who incite, sow, or manipulate them. That is why very clear red lines must be drawn between what is permissible and impermissible - because it begins with something small and ends globally; a small weed is sown and a poisonous bush grows; it starts with a spark and results in a fire. The Holocaust is the most severe and tragic reminder of this path”, he noted.

“War gives rise to war; violence breeds violence. That is why civilization must always stand on the side of peace, seek balance and equilibrium, and build relations based on mutual respect, tolerance of difference, and a clear understanding of the boundaries between what is acceptable and unacceptable. This is our main message today”, he concluded.

At the event held at the National Library of the Georgian Parliament, the invited guests were also addressed by Walid Abu Haya, the Ambassador of Israel to the country.

Within the framework of the event, a presentation was held for a Holocaust remembrance competition implemented by the Embassy of Israel with the support of the Georgian Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth.