Papuashvili: Detained Protesters Were 'Incited' by Organizers
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, October 24, 2025
Georgian Dream Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said that people detained during recent protests were manipulated by both foreign and domestic organizers, and that their arrests reflect the consequences of being incited to break the law.
Speaking to journalists, Papuashvili pointed to one woman who climbed onto a police car. "This person is a personal prisoner of the shameful spectacle we witnessed in the European Parliament yesterday," he said. "It is their fault that she was incited to commit a crime. Afterwards, they will appear on platforms, hold panel discussions, display her picture, secure grants, and drink coffee."
He argued that protesters were used as "cannon fodder" while organizers remained on the sidelines. "Local organizers stayed on the sidewalk, not stepping onto Rustaveli Avenue, while foreign organizers spoke from platforms and encouraged people to break the law," Papuashvili said. He added that vulnerable and emotionally swayed participants were the ones who faced police action.
Papuashvili also singled out former Public Defender Nona Lomjaria, accusing her of encouraging protesters online while avoiding direct participation. "When the avenue couldn't be blocked on the first day, she told people on social media to 'Come on, everyone, block it,' while she herself stayed on the sidewalk," he said. He also mentioned that the Finnish Foreign Minister's presence demonstrated that some foreign actors condoned breaking the law.
Describing the protests as "staged and theatrical," Papuashvili said organizers were trying to create viral images for social media. "A marginalized, defeated minority is attempting to impose its hysteria on the city," he said. "These scenes are designed to stir panic, but they are failing."
He warned that glorifying those who break the law encourages further offenses. "When you glorify perpetrators, you produce new perpetrators," Papuashvili said, referring to previous incidents where minor actions escalated into repeated offenses.
