Violent extremism has the same face in Los Angeles, Berlin, Paris, and Tbilisi. A mask hides the face of the aggressor in the same way everywhere, a Molotov cocktail burns police officers the same way, and a flare causes the same damage to people and buildings — writes the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili.

As he notes, the fight against violence and extremism, and distancing oneself from it, is not only a European value but also a mark of a civilized society.

“Violent extremism has the same face in Los Angeles, Berlin, Paris, and Tbilisi. A mask equally hides the face of the aggressor, a Molotov cocktail burns police officers the same way, and a flare equally harms people and buildings.

Fighting against violence and extremism — and distancing oneself from it — is not only a European value but also a sign of civilization. The state exists to protect citizens, the people, individuals, from aggressors who violate their rights, property, and dignity. When you attack the police or judiciary tasked with preventing violence, you take the side of the aggressors.

Distancing from violence is the bare minimum that a civilized society must achieve. However, instead of distancing, we see that Brussels and some representatives of European governments are supporting, encouraging, and funding extremism in Georgia.

The truth becomes evident only when defenders of extremism are forced to respond to violence in their own countries,” writes Papuashvili.