Speaker Papuashvili accuses Georgian opposition of attacking Church, contrasts it with Serbia’s political movement

Georgia’s parliamentary speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, has accused the country’s opposition of attacking the Georgian Orthodox Church, contrasting its conduct with that of a political movement in Serbia whose supporters, he said, attended demonstrations carrying religious icons.

Papuashvili described the Georgian opposition as a “pseudo-religious sect”, accusing it of undermining the Church while placing the European Union’s interests above those of Georgia.

He said the political force that won in Serbia had demonstrated its religious identity at demonstrations and prioritised national interests over those of the EU.

By contrast, Papuashvili claimed that opposition figures in Georgia had adopted alternative religious symbols and leaders while calling for the country to comply with demands from Brussels.

The parliamentary speaker also accused the opposition of disregarding Georgia’s national interests on issues including European integration and territorial integrity.