“The people of Georgia deserve to be in the EU, even if their current government does not,” said MEP Viola von Cramon at the plenary session of the European Parliament on March 14.

“All masks are finally off. The Georgian government is determined to sabotage the country’s European path. Thankfully, the people of Georgia are not taking it. There is no way back to the Russian swamp, there is no way to curtail freedoms and autocracy. There is only one way forward – to Georgia’s European future. The people of Georgia saw unlike their government, everyone took to the streets to make their voices heard in Tbilisi, Brussels, and especially in Moscow,” she said.

According to Viola von Cramon, those in the streets in Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi spoke on behalf of over 80% of Georgians.

“You cannot wash away the European identity with water cannons. Burning the EU flag will not burn Europe from the Georgian hearts. Violence is futile against those who fight for freedom.

The Constitution of Georgia is sacred and its 71st Article demands the government ensure full integration of Georgia into the EU and into NATO. Yet, the government put the interests of one oligarch and the Kremlin above the Constitution. When those in power betray their people, those people will demonstrate their power. It is time to take a queue from Georgians and fight for the European future. The people of Georgia deserve to be in the EU, even if their current government does not,” she said.