**European Parliamentarian Under Fire for Comments on Georgia**
The Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, has fired back at a statement made by European Parliamentarian Rasa Juknevičienė. In a scathing response, Papuashvili called on Juknevičienė to apologize for her comments, which he deemed “fascist”.
Juknevičienė’s statement sparked outrage in Georgia when she expressed concern that another dictatorship would be established on the European continent, implying that the country was headed in that direction. Papuashvili took strong exception to this, pointing out that Juknevičienė has a history of friendship with former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who ruled the country from 2004 to 2013 and is widely regarded as authoritarian.
**”A Matter of Dignity”**
In his response, Papuashvili made it clear that he considers Juknevičienė’s comments to be a serious affront to the people of Georgia. He wrote: “It is a matter of dignity for the European Parliament that this person apologize to the Georgian people for her fascist statements.”
The statement by Papuashvili reflects a deep-seated frustration within Georgia with what many see as external interference in their country’s internal affairs. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, has been accused of various wrongdoings by opposition parties and international organizations, but many Georgians feel that these criticisms are often fueled by a desire to undermine the country’s stability and democratic progress.
**A Tense Relationship**
The relationship between Georgia and European institutions has been strained for some time. Critics argue that Western powers have been slow to recognize the achievements of the Georgian Dream government in areas like economic growth and EU integration, while amplifying criticisms of human rights abuses and electoral irregularities.
Papuashvili’s response is likely to be seen as a reflection of this tension, as well as a desire to push back against what many Georgians see as unfair and biased criticism from outside their borders. The affair has the potential to further strain relations between Georgia and European institutions, particularly if Juknevičienė refuses to apologize for her comments.
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