MEPs Condemn Political Violence and Call for Action in Georgia
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, January 17, 2025
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the worsening political climate in Georgia, following allegations of violence and democratic backsliding under the ruling Georgian Dream party.
The statement, released on Thursday, highlights the recent violent assault on former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia in a Batumi hotel, describing it as symptomatic of a broader trend of escalating violence against opposition figures and peaceful protesters.
"We express our profound concern regarding the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia. We are shocked by the news that former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia was violently assaulted in a Batumi hotel and afterwards treated in hospital. This is yet another example of the escalating violence orchestrated by the Georgian Dream and its allies against peaceful protesters and dissidents," the MEPs said.
The MEPs voiced solidarity with the ongoing protests in Georgia, where citizens have demonstrated for 50 consecutive days in support of democratic and Euro-Atlantic integration.
"We stand with the peaceful protesters who for 50 days have been demonstrating every evening in the streets of Georgia for a democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of their country. Georgia was for many years a champion of Euro-Atlantic aspirations with an overwhelming support of the people for this choice. That has not changed. What has changed is that the Georgian Dream has denied Georgians their future and does not even pretend anymore that they want a European democracy for Georgia."
Citing irregularities, the MEPs rejected the results of Georgia's October 26, 2024, parliamentary elections, describing them as fraudulent and failing to meet international democratic standards.
"The deteriorating situation in Georgia should not stay without a response. We stand by the position that currently President Salome Zourabichvili is the only clearly legitimate representative of the will of the Georgian people. We do not recognise the results of the parliamentary elections on 26 October 2024, as they were fraudulent and did not respect international standards for democratic elections. We do not recognise any decisions taken by this body," the statement read.
The MEPs urged the EU and Member States to impose personal sanctions on individuals deemed responsible for Georgia's democratic decline, specifically naming Bidzina Ivanishvili and Irakli Kobakhidze.
"We strongly encourage the EU and its Member States to introduce personal sanctions against all those who are responsible for the democratic backsliding, in particular Bidzina Ivanishvili and Irakli Kobakhidze," they stated.
Additionally, the statement called for suspending the EU-Georgia Association Council and avoiding any legitimization of the Georgian Dream government.
"We encourage individual Member States and relevant regional organisations to avoid actively legitimising the self-appointed Georgian Dream authorities and call in this regard for suspending the EU Georgia Association Council," the MEPs urged.
The MEPs called for early elections under an independent and impartial election administration, with extensive international observation to ensure transparency and fairness.
"We urgently call for early elections, conducted in an improved election environment, managed by an independent and impartial election administration with widespread international observation, to ensure a genuinely free, fair and transparent process that would represent the will of the people of Georgia."
