Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili stated that everyone recently saw the position of the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Shio III on the “On Family Values” law (anti-LGBT law), according to which such laws should not only not be repealed or amended, but, on the contrary — must be expanded and strengthened.
“When we have a choice between trusting Brussels or the Georgian Church — we choose the Georgian Church. Brussels might not like this, but whoever doesn’t like it can ‘drink some cold water,’” Papuashvili said.
Papuashvili also commented on the intention of the NGO Freedom House to present the fifth president of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, with the Mark Palmer Award. The Speaker “congratulated” her on what he called a “well-deserved award,” noting that Zourabichvili, in his words, “was indeed accurately singled out as a conduit of foreign interests in Georgia.”
As for Mark Palmer himself, the head of parliament continued, he is known as the “ideologue of color revolutions,” and, according to him, Zourabichvili deserved this award.
“Palmer was a US diplomat who is the ideologue of ‘color revolutions’ and interference in the internal affairs of other countries. It was he, in essence, who began introducing this ideology during his diplomatic career — the idea that the US should interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, carry out interventions. That is why he is known as the ideologue of ‘color revolutions.’ So, I congratulate Ms. Salome on this well-deserved award. She was indeed accurately recognized as a conduit of foreign interests in Georgia. It is well-deserved that a conduit of foreign interests in Georgia receives an award named after the ideologue of the conduits of these interests,” Papuashvili stated.
It is worth noting that Freedom House is presenting the fifth president of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, with the Mark Palmer Award for her special contribution to democracy and human rights. The award highlights Zourabichvili’s special role in recent years in defending Georgia’s European course and the country’s democratic development. It is also a recognition of her principled leadership and firm commitment to democratic values.