Prepared by Messenger Staff
European Liberal Alliance Condemns Georgian Prosecution of Opposition, Warns of 'Full Autocracy'
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE Party) has issued a stern warning regarding the political climate in Georgia, responding to the Prosecutor's Office initiating criminal proceedings against several opposition politicians. The European liberal party asserts that the country is rapidly devolving toward authoritarian rule under the governance of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party.
The prosecution targets opposition figures on charges that include sabotage, aiding and abetting hostile activities, and inciting the overthrow of the government.
In its released statement, the ALDE Party argued that the judicial action represents a serious assault on democratic principles.
"Opposition voices silenced. Democratic leaders prosecuted for 'crimes against the state,'" the statement read. The party then delivered its stark assessment: "Georgia is sliding into full autocracy under Georgian Dream, and the world must not stay silent."
The pan-European political alliance framed the political crisis as a fundamental threat to the country's stability and democratic future.
"Democracy is under full-scale assault," the statement concluded, affirming the party's position: "European liberals stand in unwavering solidarity with all those in Georgia fighting for freedom, democracy, and human rights."
Zourabichvili Slams Government Over Opposition Charges and Media Climate
Salome Zourabichvili, the fifth president of Georgia, has publicly denounced the ruling party, Georgian Dream (GD), following the initiation of new legal proceedings against multiple opposition leaders and the party's apparent disregard for a recent European Union (EU) report.
Zourabichvili suggested that the actions of the General Prosecutor's Office are politically motivated and bear the hallmarks of foreign interference.
She described the fresh accusations against almost all opposition leaders as being taken directly from a "Russian handbook at work." The charges reportedly include sabotage, plotting to topple the government, and serving foreign interests, carrying potential sentences of up to 11 years. She sharply contrasted these actions with the GD's reaction to the EU's recent assessment, stating that the government's response was effectively dismissive: "GD answers EU's Report: 'we don't care.'"
In a separate post, Zourabichvili criticized the dominant state of the Georgian media landscape, saying that major channels like Imedi and Rustavi are promoting propaganda that distorts the nation's political reality.
She asserted that the orchestrated messaging attempts to paint the EU as "the enemy" while portraying Georgia as an economic success story. She also highlighted a perceived double standard concerning Moscow.
"Propaganda, lies, orchestrated message box. Imedi, Rustavi, and other small channels dominate the Georgian media and bring to the public a deformed reality," the President wrote. She went on to note that in this climate, "Russia is never criticized, while Russian leaders praise GD."
