“What we observed in the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) was reminiscent of Soviet-style actions, displaying a lack of respect for the sovereignty of other nations. With this, PACE has betrayed and deviated from its own principles,” stated Shalva Papuashvili, Chairman of the Parliament.

He expressed concern that Soviet-style behaviour is spreading across various European countries, increasingly mirroring the tactics of the Soviet Union.

“We are witnessing troubling trends at various forums, where we see the influence of post-Soviet groups easily controlled by those now deemed war activists. The representatives from some post-Soviet republics seeking refuge in the European Union are particularly vulnerable to these influences; they echo Soviet-era disdain for the sovereignty of nations and peoples. The actions reflected in the resolution demonstrate a blatant disregard for the sovereignty of others. By adopting such an approach, PACE has betrayed its own principles.

We have already announced that members of our delegation withdrew, and as of now, we will not be represented in PACE until the sovereignty of the Georgian people is respected, allowing us to choose our own government.

Until then, any constructive dialogue is impossible. In PACE, we see the same faces and political groups present in the European Parliament, people who resort to shouting rather than meaningful discussion. This Soviet-style behaviour has become pervasive across Europe, increasingly resembling the tactics of the Soviet Union.

As we commemorate April 9, we did not fight for independence to allow the Estonian government, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, or certain French and Swedish MPs—who called for a Maidan on Rustaveli Avenue—to dictate to the Georgian people whom they should choose,” Papuashvili concluded.