Georgian Parliament Speaker calls on protesters against EU talks suspension to “stop violence, aggression”

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday called on protesters demonstrating against the Government's decision to suspend EU accession talks until 2028 to stop “violence and aggression”.

In his remarks over the matter, Papuashvili said “processes in the country must return to public space, the Parliament, TV studios, and even to the streets, but in an appropriate manner that will not cause riots”.

The clashes [with police forces], initiated and provoked by violent groups [at the protest rallies], have left many victims. I would like to wish each of them good health. Most importantly, I would like to once again, as in previous days, call for an end to violence, an end to aggression, and for the political process to return to the legal framework”, the Speaker said.

Papuashvili further thanked law enforcement officers for performing their duties “at the risk of their own health”.

Over the past two weeks, we have seen a protest movement centred here, around the Parliament, which unfortunately turned violent on a daily basis. Naturally, we have seen peaceful demonstrators standing here to express their protest or solidarity, but we have also seen extremely aggressive groups that have turned the entire movement violent”, he continued.

Papuashvili stressed the ruling Georgian Dream party was a “Government elected by the majority” in the parliamentary elections in October, before adding “but we still hear everyone's voice”.

The Government today has the most important obligation to ensure order and not allow chaos and any uncontrolled processes. There can be no compromise in this regard. Naturally, we do not intend to deal with political activists obsessed with coups or other revolutionary ideas”, the Speaker said.

Papuashvili further highlighted the role of the ruling party in the country’s European integration path by saying “we have gone the furthest in 12 years than any other political force could have”.

We continue on this path. We continue it consistently, methodically, in a timely and planned manner. If we have achieved anything in this direction, we have achieved it precisely because we have guided the process wisely and wisely. That is why voters trusted the path of integration into the European Union that we have proposed and that is why they gave us a mandate to govern the country”, he noted.

The Speaker claimed the current situation was a “consequence of processes happening around the country”, adding that “we will surely emerge from it safely”.