Speaker Papuashvili blasts EU for blackmailing Georgian citizens

Shalva Papuashvili, speaker of the Georgian Parliament, stated that the European Union is using the threat of suspending visa-free travel as a tool to pressure the country’s citizens, effectively putting their freedom at risk.

Papuashvili emphasised that the EU is effectively blackmailing Georgia by trying to control its judicial appointments, influence legislation, and impose social policies, Caliber.Az reports per Georgian media.

“The main message of this blackmail is: ‘Georgian people, either you obey our will and do as we say – we will appoint your judges and prosecutors, force you to legalise same-sex marriage as we demand of everyone, pass the laws we want, repeal those we don’t – or you will have to come to our embassies for visas.’ This is the level at which they think of the Georgian people – that between freedom and a visa, Georgians will choose the visa,” Papuashvili said.

In a passionate parliamentary speech, he described Brussels as having a “colonial mindset.” “What cultural view of other peoples do they have, from what century, if they think of others as though they will land from a ship, meet a foreign tribe, offer them a drink, and take all the gold? That is how people were deceived once, but that time is long past,” he added.

Papuashvili’s comments came in response to a letter from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Georgian opposition figures. 

In the letter, von der Leyen warned that a partial suspension of Georgia’s visa-free regime could affect all citizens. She emphasised that Brussels expects Georgian authorities to improve governance, strengthen the rule of law, and combat corruption to prevent such an outcome.

By Jeyhun Aghazada