“Today, Brussels has strayed from our shared European values, the foremost of which is respect for democracy,” wrote Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on social media.

As Papuashvili articulates, modern Europe not only distances itself from violence but also, disturbingly, appears to side openly with the perpetrators.

“When discussing the complex relationship between Georgia and the European Union, we must not forget the root cause of this situation, which is right before us. Today, Brussels has lost sight of our common European values, chief among them being respect for democracy. It is impossible to uphold democracy, that is, the rule of the people, while simultaneously interfering in the choices of other nations. The manner and extent to which Brussels and some of its ambassadors meddled in the 2024 elections constitute a violation of both the UN Charter and the Vienna Convention, the very principles underpinning our rules-based international order. You cannot respect democracy and ignore the rule of law and justice.

Brussels has already been decisively defeated by the Georgian judiciary in numerous cases involving Saakashvili, Melia, Gvaramia. Some unscrupulous bureaucrats in Brussels considered these rulings political verdicts. Strasbourg ruled otherwise: Brussels lied, and Georgian justice was entirely justified. Ultimately, it is impossible to uphold democracy while turning a blind eye to politically motivated crimes.

The EU ambassador’s evasive response to the question of condemning the violence of October 4 reveals the deadlock into which Brussels has fallen. Modern Europe not only does not distance itself from violence but also, regrettably, appears to side with the perpetrators. The path forward is clear, and the solution is obvious. Brussels must restore its relations with the Georgian people through respect for European values. If Brussels truly wishes to return to those values, the first step is to acknowledge and respect democracy,” writes Shalva Papuashvili.