Georgian Parliament official accuses European officials of silence over unrest in France

Davit Matikashvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on Procedural Issues and Rules, on Sunday criticised European officials for their silence over the recent unrest in France, accusing them of applying double standards in their responses to protests in Georgia and France.

Matikashvili recalled the reactions of European officials to violent events in Tbilisi, contrasting them with their response to the ongoing unrest in France.

“We well remember how European officials encouraged the violent protests in Tbilisi, during which police officers were literally set on fire, buildings were burned and acts of destruction were carried out. They called these events peaceful demonstrations and provided ideological support to ensure that the unrest continued, while criticising the state for the comparatively liberal approach taken by the police towards attackers and perpetrators of violence”, he noted.

“Today, when Europe is practically engulfed in flames and revolutionary processes are clearly unfolding in the streets of France, with police repeatedly using excessive force and thousands of people being detained, the Euro-bureaucracy remains silent. They do not speak out. This once again highlights the very poor double standards they have demonstrated towards Georgia and the Georgian people”, Matikashvili added.

Violence erupted across France again on Saturday amid protests over problems in schools and the rising cost of living, with the government describing the situation as an “escalation of violence”. An estimated 550,000 people took to the streets in cities across the country, and at least 1,200 people were arrested.

In Paris, clashes with police continued into the evening, with officers using tear gas and water cannons against demonstrators.