“We have incorrigible repeat offenders, people who constantly insult and abuse others, and nothing will change them,” Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said while commenting on the use of hate speech.­­

Speaking to journalists, Papuashvili said that some European representatives in Georgia have contributed to creating a perception that insults, profanity, and vulgarity are associated with European values.

“Society itself notices that hate speech, especially on social media, has decreased. Of course, we have incorrigible repeat offenders, abusers, and people who use offensive language, whom nothing will change. Their nature is such that they must engage in verbal or physical aggression, they must insult others; this is the task they receive in order to create chaos in the country. Perhaps nothing can be done about repeat offenders.

“Some people were drawn into this false political culture, which is presented as European culture – the idea that swearing, insults, and vulgarity represent being European. Unfortunately, this is what some European representatives in Georgia have achieved: equating insults, profanity, and vulgarity with European identity.

“I think those people who were influenced by this will reflect and return to Georgian culture, because this is precisely the foundation of European culture,” Papuashvili said.