Georgian Parliament Speaker: without Georgia’s WWII sacrifice, there would have been no EU or Europe Day

Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday announced that he does not plan to attend an event organised by the European Union Delegation in Tbilisi on the occasion of Europe Day.

Speaking to journalists, Papuashvili claimed that a similar event held last year by the EU embassy did not include any reference to the sacrifice of Georgians during World War II.

“We saw last year that on May 9 the EU embassy held what was effectively an anti-government rally, and the EU ambassador did not say a single word about the 300 000 Georgians who died in the Second World War. Without this sacrifice made by Georgia and the Georgian people, there would have been no European Union, no Europe Day, and nothing to celebrate”, the speaker said.

He added that, based on what he described as the EU Embassy’s “attitude”, he expects a similar politically charged gathering this year, which he said he has no intention of attending.

Papuashvili further questioned whether individuals connected to the “October 4 storming of the presidential palace” would attend the event organised by the EU embassy.

“I am wondering whether we will see at this gathering the participants of October 4, the political co-organisers of attempts to overthrow the government. Will those who previously threatened us with ‘Nepal-style’ scenarios be there, and will they be greeted and welcomed? I am also interested whether those who have announced another October 4-style event for May 26 will attend, and whether they will be shaken hands with. This shows a lot about who is behind hatred, violence, confrontation, and radicalism in Georgia”, he concluded.