Shalva Papuashvili: When they were unable to comprehend and come to terms with their own history in their own country, I think the German Embassy should show a bit of humility and refrain from claiming that the Georgian people need its help to understand their own history

Irakli Khvadagiani is an example of a failure to comprehend the past. The German Embassy knew exactly who it was dealing with and who they had brought in as an expert, yet it continues to behave so shamelessly and rudely — which is unfortunate," said Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, responding to the appearance of Irakli Khvadagiani at an event organized by the German Embassy.

According to Shalva Papuashvili, the German Embassy should show a little humility and not claim that the Georgian people need its help to understand their own history.

“I have no particular issue with either Khvadagiani or Beka Kobakhidze. My issue is with the German Embassy, which presents a propagandist of Saakashvili's regime at a public meeting as someone capable of helping society reflect on its past. This is simply throwing dust in people’s eyes. It is obvious that the purpose of the event was not to help people understand the past but rather to engage in brainwashing. Just imagine — someone who is so blind to the past that they joined the United National Movement’s party list in 2024 is now expected to speak in the name of reflecting on history. Irakli Khvadagiani is a clear example of a failure to comprehend the past.

The German Embassy is fully aware of public sentiment toward this person and his organization. Given recent scandals, such as when the French Embassy gave them funding just hours before a law was passed, they knew exactly who they were supporting and who they were presenting as an expert. And yet, the German Embassy behaves this shamelessly and harshly — which is regrettable.

When it comes to reflecting on history after the era of the German Democratic Republic, and when it's suggested that Georgia needs the help of the German Embassy to do so, they should take a look at the most recent election results in Germany. Let them examine the results by federal state and they’ll see exactly where the divide lies — the invisible line that still separates East and West Germany. This is proof that the German public itself has failed to fully come to terms with its own past — even 35 years after reunification.

When they have failed to comprehend and process their own history in their own country — and when recent elections clearly demonstrate this — I believe the German Embassy should show a little more humility and stop acting as if the Georgian people need their help to understand our history. And by the way, our history is not a matter of a few decades — it spans millennia. We have been reflecting on our past throughout that time, and we will continue to do so — without anyone’s help, and certainly not with such harmful assistance,” said Shalva Papuashvili.

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