Speaker Papuashvili: since Brussels has chosen confrontational tone, it will hear well-reasoned assessment from Georgian People

The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, on Saturday condemned recent statements from EU officials, saying the “patronising tone” used by some European Commissioners toward the Georgian people was unacceptable.

“Our main evaluator is the Georgian people, it is they who assess the Georgian Government. The way Brussels now tries to set ‘five-point plans’ for Georgia is reminiscent of the Soviet system, when Moscow dictated five-year plans. The key principle of international order is respect for the sovereignty of nations”, Papuashvili said.

The Speaker added certain post-Soviet politicians had developed the “arrogant habit” of speaking on behalf of the Georgian nation.

“It is unacceptable that people elected in Estonia or other countries address us, Georgians, as if they represent us. There is no greater cynicism or disrespect for our independence than this”, he noted.

Papuashvili added that Tbilisi would continue to voice its own assessments of Brussels’ actions.

“Since Brussels has decided to adopt such a confrontational tone and take on the role of Georgia’s ‘curator and guardian,’ the Georgian people will respond with a very well-reasoned evaluation of their conduct. Today, Brussels has strayed from European values and is sliding backward - toward the Soviet Union”, he said.