The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, stated that the European Union would not exist today without the victory over fascism, a victory to which Georgian soldiers made a significant contribution.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Papuashvili criticized the absence of EU representatives at commemorative events. "If there were no victory over fascism and the contribution of 300,000 Georgians who died in the war, there would be no European Union or Europe Day. This is the most important thing that all EU citizens and diplomats must understand," the Speaker remarked. He further noted that during last year's May 9 events, no EU officials were present to honor the veterans or speak on the historical significance of the date.
Papuashvili emphasized that while Europe would still exist geographically without the 1945 victory, its ideological foundation would have been drastically different given the nature of fascist objectives. May 9, known as Victory Day, commemorates the defeat of Nazi Germany. Georgia, then part of the Soviet Union, played a substantial role in the conflict, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of citizens. In recent years, the celebration of May 9 has become a point of political discussion in the region, often juxtaposed with "Europe Day," which the EU celebrates on the same date to mark the 1950 Schuman Declaration. Papuashvili’s comments reflect ongoing tensions regarding historical memory and the recognition of Soviet-era contributions within the modern European framework.
