PACE Vice-President: We Must Act If We Don’t Want a Second Belarus in the Caucasus

"Imprisoning opposition politicians, intimidating civil society and putting them behind bars, beating and arresting people who demonstrate - it sounds all too familiar. It is a reality in Russia and Belarus today. For too long, we watched as one repressive law after another was passed until it was too late. But we can learn from our mistakes.

We must do so today with regard to Georgia if we do not want a second Belarus in the Caucasus!

New opposition politicians are arrested in Georgia every day. As a member of the Council of Europe, Georgia has committed itself to respecting human rights and protecting democracy. I call on the Committee of Ministers to defend the Council of Europe's red lines and to act immediately before it is too late!" Abraham stated.

“The arrest of opposition voices is an attack at Georgia’s democratic foundations, which are being eroded by the day. I stand with those fighting for a free and pluralistic Georgian society and call on the Georgian authorities to release all journalists, activists and those detained unjustly,” wrote Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement.

Svenja Hahn, President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) in the European Parliament, has responded to the arrest of opposition leaders in Georgia.

“I am outraged! Three more liberal opposition leaders have been imprisoned by the regime in Georgia. This is political persecution. The erosion of democratic values and freedoms in Georgia is happening before our eyes.

The Georgian Dream regime must be terrified of the continued manifestations, growing public pressure, and vocal opposition.

The Georgian Dream regime must respect its obligations under international law, release the imprisoned liberal party leaders without delay, drop the charges against the opposition, and return Georgia to the European path the Georgian people have chosen and the Georgian constitution demands,” stated the president of ALDE.

Zurab Japaridze and Giorgi Vashadze have already been sentenced to 7 months in prison for non-compliance with a request of the provisional investigative commission of the Parliament. Vashadze was arrested on June 24. Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze were sentenced to 8 months.

Under the same charge are jailed leaders of the Coalition for Change, including Nika Melia, Nika Gvaramia, and former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili. Bail was set for them, but they refused to pay it. Court verdicts have not yet been announced for them.

Georgian Dream MP Tea Tsulukiani chairs the so-called investigative commission. Except for former Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia, no opposition politician summoned to the commission has appeared. Gakharia was scheduled to be questioned on June 23 regarding the Chorchana checkpoint. However, he informed the commission that he was not in Georgia and requested to attend the meeting remotely. This request was denied. The commission rescheduled his hearing for July 2, and his case has not yet been forwarded to the Prosecutor’s Office for non-compliance.

According to Article 349 of the Criminal Code, non-compliance with a request of the provisional investigative commission of the Parliament is a criminal offense and shall be punished by a fine or imprisonment for up a year, with deprivation of the right to hold an official position or to carry out a particular activity for up to three years.

The court found the opposition leaders guilty under this article. In addition to their imprisonment, they were prohibited from holding public office for two years.