Speaker of the Georgian Parliament criticised a recent debate in the European Parliament concerning Georgia, saying it resembled the style and tone of the Soviet-era Congress of People’s Deputies.

“Both the intonation and the tone were reminiscent of the Congress of People’s Deputies held in Moscow in 1989 after April 9. Those who remember that period may recall how deputies from various Soviet republics were insulting and attacking Georgians. What we saw yesterday was very similar.

Several European lawmakers were representatives of the “Soviet camp”, members of the Soviet nomenclature, including Ms. [Rasa] Juknevičienė, who is known for her fascist statements toward Georgians.

Let me remind you that she uses terms such as “infection” and ‘it is the people’s fault’. This is typical fascist terminology that she uses toward Georgians. I would also remind you that on October 4 she encouraged and supported a violent overthrow. There were also other deputies representing Baltic countries.

We wanted the European Union and Brussels based on values, but what we received was the Congress of People’s Deputies of the Soviet Union, which is increasingly moving backwards even in the history of the Soviet Union itself. For now, it resembles the period of 1989, when Mikhail Gorbachev was implementing perestroika. They are still at the level of perestroika, but we can see the tendency is moving further back, likely toward [Leonid] Brezhnev.

So, Georgians should understand that today the European Parliament, in terms of its aesthetics, content and values, is becoming increasingly similar to the Congress of People’s Deputies of the Soviet Union”, - said Shalva Papuashvili.