Georgian Parliament Speaker calls for diplomatic condemnation after “pyrotechnic attack”

The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, on Tuesday called on foreign embassies to condemn what he described as an attack on the legislative building during a pro-European protest in Tbilisi the previous day.

He claimed the Parliament had been targeted with pyrotechnics during a demonstration organized by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that he said receive funding from foreign embassies.

“Yesterday, the Georgian Parliament building was once again attacked with pyrotechnics. I expect the embassies to condemn the attack, especially since it took place at a rally organized by NGOs funded by them,” Papuashvili wrote on social media.

He also criticized recent diplomatic engagement with Human Rights House, a coalition of NGOs that he accuses of aiding protesters involved in “violent incidents” near the Parliament.

The Speaker referred to a visit by representatives from the Czech, German, Norwegian, British, and Dutch embassies to the organization, linking it to what he described as efforts to shield demonstrators from legal consequences.

The protest follows weeks of political tensions in Georgia, where the public have repeatedly rallied against the Government’s decision late last year to halt the country’s EU integration until 2028.