Georgian PM: European officials apply double standards to protests in Georgia, France, Albania

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday accused European officials of applying double standards in their responses to protests in Georgia, France and Albania, saying that, unlike in the latter two countries, officials encouraged protesters in Georgia, including those involved in violence.

Speaking to journalists, Kobakhidze said European officials urged protesters in France and Albania to refrain from certain actions, while, in Georgia, they had encouraged demonstrators and portrayed violent protesters as peaceful.

“There is a clear double standard, including in their statements. Not only in the case of France, but even in relation to Albania, you can see that European officials are not calling on the authorities to take specific steps; instead, they are urging protesters to refrain from certain actions. In Georgia, it was the opposite - they used to encourage protesters, including violent ones”,Kobakhidze said.

He described the portrayal of violent demonstrators in Georgia as peaceful protesters as “outright farce”, arguing that European officials had not adopted the same approach toward protests in France and Albania.

“This farce was not played out in the cases of France and Albania, which has an entirely political basis. What matters is fairness, a sound approach and making the right statements — something we did not see in our case”, he noted.

Kobakhidze added that Georgia wished peace and stability to European countries and their people.