“After several days of consideration, the EU Delegation issued yet another impertinent statement. The public has legitimate questions regarding projects implemented with EU funding,” Irakli Kirtskhalia, leader of the parliamentary majority, said on social media, commenting on a statement issued by the EU Delegation concerning the postponement of the Kamara Festival.

According to Kirtskhalia, the EU Delegation should explain what standards it follows when funding and organizing events in Georgia, how it ensures that the intended purpose of such events is maintained, and what responsibility it assumes regarding public safety.

“After several days of consideration, the EU Delegation issued yet another impertinent statement. It would be unserious to comment on this statement seriously.

“Let us simply imagine that an event were held in the center of Brussels with funding from a representation of a foreign country, and from the stage of that event, insulting calls — to put it very mildly — were made against European officials, their political team, and, most importantly, their voters. How would European institutions react, and how would they assess the responsibility of the organizers of such an event?

“These are precisely the questions to which we expect specific answers, rather than general offensive statements about the importance of so-called cultural cooperation.

“After supporting various forms of the so-called protest for a long time, we have ultimately reached the point where the European Union has lost its appeal to the public, because everyone can see the ruthless destruction of the values and principles on which Europe has always stood. This is the result of the bureaucracy that has distinguished itself for years by its most unfair attitude toward Georgia.

“When we talk about normalizing relations between Georgia and the European Union, we mean political and cultural dialogue based on mutual respect, rather than cooperation whose terms are determined unilaterally.

“The public has legitimate questions regarding EU-funded projects, including their objectives, the selection of participants, and the use of funding. Answers to these questions are particularly important when political controversy arises around such projects.

“The EU Delegation should explain what standards it follows when funding and organizing events in Georgia, how it ensures that their intended purpose is maintained, and what responsibility it assumes regarding public safety.

“Respect for Georgia’s sovereignty should not be merely part of diplomatic statements — statements that are followed in real time by actions that insult the country,” Kirtskhalia wrote.

For reference, the Danish Cultural Institute said on social media that, due to security concerns, the Kamara Festival could not take place as planned and had therefore been postponed.

The festival was also scheduled to feature a performance by musician Kordz (Alexander Kordzaia), who recently said on social media that his concert was facing serious threats and that he had therefore been forced to cancel it.

The EU Delegation in Georgia commented on the development today, expressing regret over the postponement of the Kamara Festival, which was planned as part of the EU-funded Creative Compass Georgia project, due to security concerns.

The EU Delegation said that the European Union strongly believes in freedom of creative expression.