European Parliament Adopts Another Critical Resolution On Georgia With 490 Votes In Favor

The European Parliament approved an amendment concerning the municipal elections scheduled for October 4. The resolution states that under the current political and legal conditions, the municipal elections present enormous challenges for any potential participant expecting a free and fair contest, and that, further, such participation will be used by the self-appointed authorities as recognition of the new status quo.

“These upcoming elections do not present an opportunity to reflect the democratic choice of the Georgian people unless the imprisoned and detained political opposition leaders are released and the elections are held in an improved electoral environment, overseen by an independent and impartial election administration and monitored through diligent international observation to guarantee a genuinely fair, free and transparent process,” resolution states.

The resolution stresses that it does not recognise the self-proclaimed authorities established by the Georgian Dream party following the rigged parliamentary elections and considers Georgia a state seized by the illegitimate Georgian Dream regime.

The European Parliament expresses deep regret over the fact that the Parliament of Georgia is a one-party parliament, formed based on rigged elections, which is incompatible with a pluralistic parliamentary democracy and the standards expected from an EU candidate country.

The European Parliament rejects any decisions made by the body that has established control over the country, including hasty changes to the Code of Administrative Offenses, the Criminal Code, and the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations.

The resolution underlines that the policy of non-recognition of the legitimacy of the one-party parliament and the president appointed by it should continue until there is a tangible change in the political course of Georgia and new, free, and fair elections are held.

The EP calls for the EU’s and the Member States’ representatives and members of parliament to refrain from meetings with representatives of the regime, starting with the current de facto president.

It continues to recognise Salome Zourabichvili as the legitimate President of Georgia and representative of the Georgian people.

The European Parliament reiterates its unwavering support for the Georgian people’s legitimate European aspirations; strongly condemns the violent repression of peaceful protesters, political opponents and media representatives and demands that the Georgian authorities refrain from using force, respect the freedoms of assembly and of expression and annul the recently adopted draconian legislation aimed at stifling popular protests.

The European Parliament expresses its particular concern regarding the growing number of political prisoners and reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all of them.

The European Parliament also demands the release of Mzia Amaglobeli, founder of Netgazeti and Batumelebi, expressing deep concern over the critical deterioration of her eyesight while in detention.

The resolution condemns the dismissal of approximately 700 public servants since December 2024 for participating in or supporting pro-European protests. Georgian Dream is urged to repeal the changes made to the Law on Public Service.

The European Parliament stresses the need for an immediate and comprehensive audit of the EU’s policy towards Georgia and calls on the Commission to review the status of the Association Agreement and visa-free travel, with the possibility of suspending it, for which it places full responsibility on Georgian Dream.

Furthermore, the resolution stresses the importance of visa-free travel for Georgian civil society actors, human rights activists, and journalists for enabling them to quickly leave the country, as many face political persecution by the authorities.

The European Parliament underlines the responsibility of Bidzina Ivanishvili for the deterioration of the political process in Georgia and calls for the EU, in cooperation with other jurisdictions, in particular the United Kingdom, to freeze his financial assets. Additionally, it calls on the EU and its member states to unilaterally and coordinately impose personal sanctions against the main political leaders, officials, and facilitators of the Georgian Dream regime within the administration, business, media, judicial system, law enforcement agencies, and the election commission.

The resolution further calls for sanctions to extend to mid- and lower-level public officials responsible for implementing repressive measures against the regime’s opponents.

The European Parliament reiterates its position that the settlement of the current political and constitutional crisis in Georgia can only be achieved by way of new parliamentary elections, which should be held in the next few months in an improved electoral environment, overseen by an independent and impartial election administration and monitored through diligent international observation.

The resolution strongly reiterates its urgent demand for the immediate release of former President Mikheil Saakashvili on humanitarian grounds.

The EP condemns the continuing and deliberate destruction of the environment for Georgia’s vibrant civil society, with the adoption of several pieces of restrictive Russian-style legislation.

The resolution points out that, under its present Government, Georgia is heading in a direction that threatens to make it a vassal state of Russia, as is the case with Belarus.

The EP notes with worry a recent strategic turn by the Georgian Dream government towards China, and its growing cooperation with Iran. 

The document is based on the European Commission's 2023 and 2024 reports on Georgia. The rapporteur for the issue was Lithuanian MEP Rasa Juknevičienė, a representative of the European People's Party.