**Sanctions Used as Tools of Political Vendetta, Says Georgian Speaker**
In a scathing Facebook post, the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, has accused Western countries, particularly Germany, of using sanctions and visa restrictions as tools of political vendetta rather than upholding basic legal principles. This approach, he argues, is deeply un-European.
Papuashvili’s comments were sparked by a statement made by German Ambassador to Georgia Peter Fischer regarding sanctions. The ambassador claimed that their country does not want human rights violators to enter Germany. However, Papuashvili pointed out that if this was truly the case, then the German government would have banned Zurab Adeishvili from entering the country.
**The Case Against Zurab Adeishvili**
Adeishvili is a former Georgian official who has been convicted of several human rights abuses. According to Papuashvili, these crimes include the kidnapping and mutilation of Koba Davitashvili, prison torture, and attempting to bankrupt Cartu Bank. Despite these convictions, Adeishvili was allowed to visit Germany just a few months ago, where he held meetings as a representative of the Ukrainian government.
**Double Standards Exposed**
Papuashvili’s post exposed what appears to be a double standard on the part of Western countries. If they truly reject human rights violators, then why did they not ban Adeishvili from entering their country? The fact that he was allowed to visit Germany and even attend meetings suggests that sanctions or visa restrictions are being used as tools of political influence rather than upholding justice.
**A Threat to European Values**
Papuashvili’s comments highlight a worrying trend where Western countries are abandoning basic legal principles in favor of using sanctions and visa restrictions for political purposes. This approach, he argues, is deeply non-European and undermines the values that these countries claim to uphold.
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