Speaker Papuashvili says European Parliament ‘resembles reincarnation of Soviet Congress of People’s Deputies’

Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said the European Parliament has become a “full reincarnation” of the Soviet-era Congress of People’s Deputies, adding that Georgia has “nothing in common” with what he described as Soviet-minded or extremist rhetoric.

“We see that there is less and less to discuss with these people. We are on two different value poles. The European Parliament is a reincarnation of the Soviet Union’s Congress of People’s Deputies in the full sense of the word — in aesthetics, even in accents,” he said.

He added that, in his view, the current state of the European Parliament represents a “value confusion” and said cooperation would only be possible if the institution itself fundamentally changes.

“The Georgian people have nothing in common with people of Soviet mentality or those making fascist statements,” Papuashvili said.