**Swedish Embassy’s Cynicism on Full Display, Says Georgian Parliament Speaker**
In a scathing response to the Swedish Embassy in Georgia, the country’s Parliament Speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, has accused the embassy of violating international law and engaging in cynical behavior. The controversy centers around the adoption of laws related to foreign funding of activities linked to extremism.
According to Papuashvili, it is not the job of diplomats to criticize lawmakers or their adopted laws without justification. He took issue with the Swedish Embassy’s statement claiming that Sweden’s new law aims to prohibit financing of extremism and sabotage. “This is exactly what cynicism looks like when an embassy engages in it,” he said.
The Speaker pointed out that just last November, a Swedish government official encouraged radical opposition and called on protesters to sabotage parliament. Papuashvili questioned why the Swedish Embassy had not distanced themselves from this stance or condemned it. Since they remained silent, he implied that they endorse such actions.
**A Double Standard?**
Papuashvili also highlighted another concerning issue in Sweden: the targeting of religious organizations, which is a clear violation of human rights. This, he said, adds another dimension to the human rights abuses committed by Swedish authorities.
The controversy began when the Swedish Embassy issued a statement regarding the legislative process in Sweden and Georgia’s “Foreign Agents Registration Act.” The embassy emphasized that Sweden’s approach was fundamentally different from Georgia’s law, which was adopted without proper public consultations. However, Papuashvili disputed this claim, pointing out that the Swedish Embassy’s own behavior is hypocritical.
**A Breach of International Law?**
The Speaker accused the Swedish Embassy of violating international law by unjustifiably criticizing the Georgian Parliament and its lawmakers. He reminded them that such actions are a breach of the Vienna Convention, which governs diplomatic relations between countries.
In conclusion, Papuashvili’s response leaves no doubt about his stance on the matter: “any talk of having different intentions is not to be taken seriously.”
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