Speaker: By failing to condemn violence, you endorse extremism; by failing to condemn extremism, you accept terrorism

Aleko Elisashvili admits to committing a terrorist act, the court will determine his motives and other details. The fact is that he himself admits he planned, prepared, and cold-bloodedly carried out a terrorist act,” the Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili stated.

According to him, the incident is “the result of Brussels, its ambassadors and politicians turning a blind eye and even encouraging such perpetrators.”

“So everything is clear. What is unclear is Lelo’s statement, which seems to condemn it. The condemnation should have occurred when someone made a harmful statement. A person openly admits to committing a terrorist act. The question is simple: does Lelo intend to expel Aleko Elisashvili from its ranks, or do they want a terrorist to remain as a member of ALDE? Have we seen reactions from ALDE, of which Lelo and Elisashvili are members? Should they keep a terrorist in their ranks and then still address us?

Normally, not a second passes before ALDE leaders rush to Twitter with various statements. Where is their response now? The leader of one of their member parties committed a terrorist act, yet they do not condemn it, do not distance themselves from it, do not expel him—nothing. Zero reaction,” Papuashvili said.

He added that this case is “not an isolated incident” but “a symptom and result of the brainwashing we see from outside.”

“Let us recall the call an EU Commissioner made to Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, hinting that people would become so brainwashed they would resort to crime. This is not an isolated outcome — it stems from the fact that they have never condemned the use of Molotov cocktails. On the contrary, Brussels financed the Molotov cocktail campaign. They protected those involved in the October 4 attempted coup, and the Finnish Foreign Minister even came to the rally and expressed support to one of the participants.

By failing to condemn violence, you endorse extremism; and by failing to condemn extremism, you accept terrorism. Today’s terrorist act is entirely the result of Brussels, its ambassadors, and its politicians turning a blind eye and further encouraging the perpetrators. This is European-style violence in Georgia,” Papuashvili said.

Aleko Elisashvili was arrested on November 29. He was charged with attempting to commit a terrorist act at the Tbilisi City Court. The charge presented carries a sentence of 10 to 15 years’ imprisonment. The court has ordered pre-trial detention for Elisashvili on terrorism charges today.