On November 20, “Imedi”, “Rustavi 2”, and other media outlets (1, 2, 3, 4.), along with several Facebook pages and accounts (1, 2,) circulated a statement from Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili. In the statement, he alleged that a representative of the Swedish government attended the rally and called on participants to stage Maidan.
Shalva Papuashvili’s claim that the Swedish government representative urged protesters to stage Maidan is manipulation. In reality, the European politician did not advocate for revolution or a violent change of government in his speech. While the Swedish parliamentarian did reference the Ukrainian Maidan revolution in an interview, he also emphasized that Georgians should avoid violence.
On November 11, parliamentarians from eight European countries visited Georgia, where they met with the President, opposition leaders, and representatives of non-governmental organizations. Their discussions focused on the October 26 elections, which remain unrecognized as legitimate by opposition parties and the President. Among the delegation was Erik Ottoson, Chairman of the European Union Committee in the Swedish Parliament, who also addressed protesters at an evening rally in front of the parliament. The event was broadcast live by multiple media outlets, allowing anyone interested to view the parliamentarian’s full speech.
To assess Shalva Papuashvili’s claim, “Myth Detector” analyzed Erik Ottoson’s full speech, confirming that he did not incite violence or advocate for a revolution—an action often equated by some in Georgia with Ukraine’s Maidan. Ottoson began by expressing admiration for the Georgian people’s courage during their resistance to Russian aggression in 2008. He asserted that the path to Europe is grounded in democracy, the rule of law, freedom, and human rights, highlighting that the rally participants embody these principles. Ottoson stressed that Russian aggression manifests in various ways, some harder to detect, but noted that in Georgia’s case, it is not too late to counter it. He added that as long as the people defend democracy, anything is achievable because democracy relies on the strength of the opposition, the citizenry, and “the bond we share within society and Europe.” Concluding his speech, he urged protesters to persevere despite challenges and remain steadfast in pursuing their goals.
On November 11, TV channel Formula aired an interview with Erik Ottoson, during which he emphasized that the fight for democracy in Georgia is ongoing and that peaceful protests should be expanded. Unlike his speech at the rally, where he made no reference to the Maidan, Ottoson in the interview mentioned the 2013–2014 events in Ukraine, highlighting how widespread civic engagement led to a revolution, though the transfer of power involved violence. He stressed that if Georgians truly uphold European values and ideals, they must avoid resorting to violence under any circumstances.
It should be noted that the arrival of the European parliamentarians was met with criticism from members of the Georgian Dream, and many statements were made to discredit them. In addition, Shalva Papuashvili himself refused to meet with them.
On November 12, the “Myth Detector” exposed a video manipulation that falsely portrayed Erik Ottoson as covering his ears during the Georgian anthem. Read more:
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