“While hearing the personal tragedies of victims from Saakashvili’s violent regime, the Czech Embassy’s attempt to use the term ‘beacon of democracy’ in a positive context is either ignorant or ironic,” stated Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Facebook.

The Speaker commented on a post from the Czech Embassy, which lamented, “It is sad to see how, once a beacon of democracy in the South Caucasus, Georgia is backsliding toward authoritarianism. Laws to protect media freedom are being eroded, physical and online attacks against journalists persist with impunity, and the use of courts and the legal system to harass journalists and media outlets is on the rise.”

According to Papuashvili, the Czech Embassy is attacking the Georgian state and judiciary.

“The term ‘beacon of democracy’ is inextricably linked to Saakashvili and serves as a symbol for foreign actors attempting to obscure the crimes of his regime. In the context of the parliamentary interim investigative commission, the use of the term ‘beacon of democracy’ by the Czech Embassy in a positive light is either naive or sarcastic. Regrettably, rather than condemning or distancing themselves from the violent acts and rhetoric from representatives of Czech-funded organizations, the embassy chooses to attack the Georgian state and judiciary,” he added.