It is true that for Herczynski, the past of the Georgian people was dark, but if anything in our history was truly dark, it was the constant attempt by foreign powers to “choke us by hugging,” - this is how Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili responds to the statement of the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski.

As Papuashvili writes, the ambassador’s statement was “a classic example of political cynicism.”

“It is true that for Herczynski, the past of the Georgian people was dark, but if anything in our history was truly dark, it was the constant attempt by foreign powers to “choke us by hugging.” It was so in the past, it is so today:

Those who incited the violence of October 4 themselves talk to us about violence.

We are warned about civil war by those whose funding is used by groups attacking the church, state, and human dignity. We are taught about poverty by those who drag us into a war of sanctions with Russia and sacrifice us for economic ruin and poverty.

We are told about the dark past by those who, through lies and deceit, try to justify a regime in which human rights violations, racketeering, and torture became state policy”, Papuashvili said.

According to hi , the greatest cynicism is that accusations are heard from an environment where violence is romanticized and its organizers are heroized.

“Finally, Georgia is always ready for a constructive dialogue, and Brussels knows very well what is necessary for this:

The aggressive rhetoric towards Georgia must stop, the attacks on the elected government must stop, the hostile resolutions directed against the Georgian people must be repealed.

A relationship that is not based on respect cannot be a partnership.

A real partnership begins when the parties perceive each other as equals.

Everyone should respect us as a country, a state, a nation.

Georgia is not a peripheral colony that should be sacrificed to the interests of the metropolis”, - writes Papuashvili.

The EU Ambassador to Georgia, who opened the documentary photo exhibition “Georgia in Focus” in Brussels at the European External Action Service, noted that Georgia is no longer on the right trajectory.

According to the ambassador, the government has chosen an alternative, authoritarian model and is distancing Georgia from the European Union.

“Georgia is at a crossroads. Georgia’s future has not yet been written, but what will be decided in the coming weeks and months will determine whether Georgia belongs to the family of European countries, based on democracy, the rule of law and human rights, or, unfortunately, returns to its dark past. My main message to the Georgian people is “do not lose hope”. We must not allow Georgia and the wonderful, warm, hospitable Georgian people to return to the dark times of violence, civil war, poverty, hardship, corruption. This is not the future they deserve.

As soon as the government expresses a desire to cooperate with us, we will do everything to help Georgia become a member of the European Union,” Herczynski was quoted as saying by Negtazeti.