Georgian Parliament Speaker: October 4 ended illusion of power change through foreign-backed protests, street violence

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Sunday said the events of October 4, 2025 defeated not only a specific violent attempt to overthrow the Government, but also what he described as the long-cultivated notion that political power in Georgia could be changed through street violence and foreign political backing rather than elections.

In remarks marking the first anniversary of the events, Papuashvili said the key lesson of October 4 was that Georgia’s future is determined by its citizens through democratic elections, not by force.

“Today marks one year since October 4, 2025 - the day when an attempt to violently change the government in Georgia culminated in an assault on the Presidential Palace. One year later, court verdicts have been delivered, the organisers and participants of the assault are serving their sentences, and many of those involved have admitted their crimes. A year is enough time to assess that day not only through the lens of emotion, but through the full chain of established facts”, he said.

Papuashvili argued that the events were preceded by weeks of rhetoric about overthrowing the Government, the promotion of violent scenarios and political encouragement of radical groups.

“October 4 did not begin in a single day. It was preceded by weeks of announcements about overthrowing the government, the romanticisation of violent scenarios and the political encouragement of radical groups. Against this backdrop, several days before October 4, a European Commission spokesperson was directly asked about the planned gathering. In response, we heard neither a call to participate in elections nor a warning that violence was unacceptable, but rather direct support for a gathering that had been announced with the aim of overthrowing the government”, Papuashvili said.

He criticised comments made by a European Commission spokesperson ahead of the events, arguing they failed to discourage violence or emphasise the importance of democratic processes.

“We immediately stated publicly that this was an extremely irresponsible statement and that, when the overthrow of the government is openly announced in advance, such a political signal amounts to encouragement for radical groups. Unfortunately, only a few days later, exactly what we had warned about occurred. On October 4, participants in the gathering marched toward the Presidential Palace and attempted to storm it. A country facing the prospect of bloodshed and a return to the instability of the 1990s was spared only by the clear and organised actions of our law enforcement agencies”, he said.

Papuashvili also linked the events to former President Salome Zourabichvili, claiming she had positioned herself for months as an alternative centre of political legitimacy.

“It is particularly important to recall another circumstance. For months beforehand, former President Salome Zourabichvili presented herself as an alternative centre of legitimacy. To reinforce this narrative, foreign politicians and diplomats regularly met with her and posed alongside her against the backdrop of the presidential standard. Even then, we warned that playing with state symbols and creating the perception of a nonexistent dual power was not harmless political theatre. Such symbolism can encourage people to take real action”, he continued.

According to Papuashvili, repeated meetings between foreign officials and Zourabichvili contributed to the perception of an alternative source of authority.

“That is why the Presidential Palace did not become a target on October 4 by accident. Nor was it accidental that, after the failure of the attempt, we no longer saw such consultations between Zourabichvili and foreign diplomats. However, to this day, we have not heard Brussels condemn the attack on the Presidential Palace or clearly distance itself from those responsible for the violence”, he added.

The Parliament Speaker said the significance of October 4 extended beyond the failure of a single operation.

“One year after the failed attempt to overthrow the government, it is particularly clear that October 4 defeated not only a specific violent plan, but also finally discredited the idea, cultivated for years, that a change of government in Georgia can be achieved through street violence and foreign political support instead of elections. This is the main lesson of October 4 - Georgia’s fate is decided by the Georgian people through elections, not through an assault”, Papuashvili said.

He also called on the European Union to condemn the events and reassess its approach toward political groups in Georgia.

“Finally, one year on, I once again call on Brussels to condemn the violent attack on the Presidential Palace on October 4, 2025; to reject political and financial support for radical groups in the future; and to repeal resolutions that undermine Georgia’s sovereignty”, he concluded.