Hipper: EU rejects Georgian Gov’t’s claim that bloc encourages protests

Anita Hipper, the European Commission’s Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Friday said the EU does not agree with the Georgian Government’s assessment that it is pushing people toward protests in the country.

“We absolutely do not agree with the Government’s assessment that the EU is pushing people toward protest. The EU does not support violence; the EU condemns violence”, Hipper stated, highlighting that Brussels consistently stands for freedom of expression.

She said recent “disinformation and propaganda” coming from Georgian officials prompted the European Commission to conclude that Georgia remains only a nominal candidate country. She stressed that the EU has been “very clear” in opposing all forms of violence and reiterated that demonstrations must remain peaceful.

“At the same time, we support the Georgian people in their pursuit of democracy, freedom of expression and Europe”, Hipper noted.

She added that the EU stands with journalists and citizens participating in peaceful rallies and strongly condemns the abuse of Government power to suppress the opposition, which, she said, is happening “right now”.

Hipper underscored once again that any claim suggesting the EU is driving public protest is “entirely false”.