MP Machavariani: EU Delegation’s immediate response to Kamara festival postponement sends message of support to radicals

“The fact that an immediate response was issued, of course, points to one thing only — yes, your concert cannot take place, but we stand by you. This message was intended for other radicals as well: we still stand by you. You see how quickly we responded,” Levan Machavariani, a member of the parliamentary majority, said.

Machavariani responded to a statement by the EU Delegation in Georgia expressing regret over the postponement of the Kamara festival.

“This is yet another attempt to further mislead emotionally affected people by giving all of this such labels, as if it were about freedom of expression. We have seen the Franklin Club or something similar, where a false equivalence was drawn between terrorism and the fight for freedom. This is a kind of brainwashing method for these radicals,” Machavariani said.

He claimed that certain funds, which he said were controlled by external forces, were particularly effective at financing such activities.

“The immediate response, of course, points to one thing only — yes, your concert cannot take place, but we stand by you. This message was also intended for other radicals: we still stand by you. You see how quickly we responded, even though responses are often not provided to letters sent in return. Months go by and certain letters remain unanswered,” Machavariani said.

According to Machavariani, it is important that a radical agenda not be artificially encouraged from outside the country.

“We, as a state, are also taking every step to put an end to radicalism, extremism and fascism in Georgia. The department that was also established within the Ministry of Internal Affairs serves precisely this purpose. Facebook, which was being used as a primary tool by these radicals to insult, humiliate and violate people’s dignity, has seen a significant reduction in this type of correspondence and content. We are monitoring the situation, and there is progress in this direction,” he said.

“Overall, the steps being taken by the authorities will, of course, put an end to fascism in Georgia,” Machavariani added.