Georgian Dream official slams Paata Burchuladze for ‘hypocrisy’ over Russia

An official from Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party has criticised renowned opera singer Paata Burchuladze, accusing him of hypocrisy over comments linking him to the Russian opera school.

Dimitri Samkharadze, the party’s regional secretary, shared a video excerpt on social media in which Burchuladze, an internationally acclaimed bass singer, says he was “honoured to be associated with the Russian opera tradition and to be recognised globally as a Russian artist.”

Samkharadze condemned the remarks, noting that Burchuladze made them despite his active presence at the April 9 Memorial in central Tbilisi – a site dedicated to victims of Soviet repression and accusing the ruling Georgian Dream party of alleged links with Russia.

“This man is standing now, on Rustaveli Avenue, at the April 9 Monument, calling Georgians Russians and preventing people from paying their respects to the fallen heroes,” Samkharadze wrote.

The April 9 Memorial commemorates the lives lost during a peaceful protest in 1989, when Soviet troops violently dispersed demonstrators demanding Georgia’s independence.