Mayor Kaladze accuses European officials of double standards over Copenhagen protest response

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has accused European officials of applying double standards in their reactions to protests in Copenhagen and Georgia.

Speaking to journalists, Kaladze said the demonstration in Copenhagen had been peaceful, while protests in Georgia had involved what he described as organised criminal groups attacking police officers.

“In Denmark there was a peaceful rally, whereas in Georgia specific criminal groups were throwing Molotov cocktails at police officers and trying to burn people alive,” he said. “They were physically assaulting officers, not to mention verbal abuse.”

Kaladze argued that despite what he described as excessive force used against demonstrators in Copenhagen, European officials had failed to condemn the incident.

“Has anyone heard statements condemning those actions or the excessive use of force?” he asked. “This is a classic example of double standards.”

The mayor also criticised past statements by European politicians regarding protests in Georgia, claiming their comments had been based on “lies and slander”.

Kaladze added unrest during demonstrations in Georgia was encouraged by certain European bureaucrats whom he accused of having political interests in the country.

He further claimed that violent acts during protests in Georgia, including the throwing of stones and Molotov cocktails at police, had been ignored or downplayed by foreign critics of the Georgian government.