Speaker: Until Paweł Herczyński explicitly condemns the 4 October presidential palace storming, he remains an enabler of the perpetrators

“Attempts to downplay Georgia’s role in regional connectivity amount to “petty vengeance” characteristic of Brussels’ bureaucracy. Yet, paradoxically, it is the European Union itself that suffers the economic and political fallout,” Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has claimed.

According to Papuashvili, Georgia continues to advance economically while growing stronger politically.

“The European Union is currently set on a course to harm Georgia. There is a clear plan to damage Georgia and the Georgian people politically, economically, and socially. Across all these areas, we see that the EU and its embassy are directly involved in this campaign to harm Georgia. If they wish to turn around and prove otherwise, the first step must be for the EU Ambassador to condemn the storming of the Georgian presidential palace on 4 October 2025.

Let me remind you that at his most recent press conference, he once again dodged the question, speaking only in general terms about the EU condemning violence. We are not children here, and if he thinks he has been posted as ambassador to a kindergarten, he is mistaken; he should look at our history. No one here is childish or naive. We directly demand that the EU Ambassador explicitly and verbatim condemn the 4 October storming of the presidential palace. Those are the words we want to hear.

Until we hear Paweł Herczyński state explicitly that he condemns the 4 October assault on the presidential palace, he remains a supporter of that storming, someone who covers it up and shields the perpetrators. This is no mere rhetoric; he has put himself in a position where he stands as a backer of violent offenders today. A year has passed, and he has still not condemned the storming of the presidential palace. Let him speak in vague generalities to Brussels; Georgians want a concrete answer,” Papuashvili said.

Turning to regional connectivity, the Parliament Speaker highlighted Georgia’s vital role in the Middle Corridor.

“Georgia is one of the key links in the Middle Corridor, both geographically and through its access to the Black Sea, spanning overland freight, maritime shipping, and pipelines. Forty per cent of the crude oil imported into the Czech Republic arrives from Azerbaijan via Georgia. A major gas supply contract was recently signed with Azerbaijan, set to take effect from 2028 onwards, and that too will transit Georgian territory. This demonstrates that Georgia is an integral link in the economic security of the European Union and its member states.

Speaking so dismissively to the Georgian people when we form a vital part of their own economic security exposes the immaturity of their foreign policy. Their behaviour is immature and short-sighted when they seek to undermine a country that underpins their economic security. This is why we suspect decisions are being taken not in Brussels, but by informal cliques leaning on governments and bureaucrats to act against their own interests. Today, the EU’s policy towards Georgia is a policy of self-harm. From the outside, it may appear aimed at hurting us, but look beneath the surface and anyone can see they are ultimately harming themselves. We approach our role in connectivity responsibly; in this case, the irresponsibility lies squarely with Brussels,” Papuashvili stated.