Georgia: MEPs condemn the crackdown on the opposition and protesters

Statement by leading MEPs on the escalating repressions by the Georgian authorities against the democratic opposition and excessive use of force against peaceful protesters.

The Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs David McAllister, the Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee Nils Ušakovs, the Chair of the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Sergey Lagodinsky and the Standing Rapporteur for Georgia of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Rasa Juknevičienė made the following statement on Thursday 5 December:

“We condemn the escalating repressions by the Georgian authorities against the democratic opposition and excessive use of force against peaceful protesters. Arrests of opponents and searches of offices are part of the toolbox of authoritarian regimes and have no place in a country with EU membership aspirations. Georgian Dream is directly responsible for the continuous democratic backsliding and the dramatic shift of the country away from its European path, contrary to the will of the vast majority of the people. Ongoing protests across the country are a legitimate expression of the wide-spread concern about the future of Georgia under the current leadership.

We call on the EU and its member states to introduce personal sanctions against all those political leaders of the Georgian Dream who are responsible for the reported election irregularities and subsequent repressions against Georgian citizens protesting on the streets. Furthermore, we recall our demand to introduce targeted sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is the person ultimately politically responsible for the wave of repressions and the suspension of the European integration process. Georgia needs a re-run of the rigged elections, which would be conducted in an improved electoral environment by an independent and impartial election administration, under diligent international observation, ensuring a genuinely fair and transparent process.

We express our full support to President Salome Zourabichvili, who remains a steadfast defender of democracy and European integration of Georgia. The European Parliament stands with the brave people of Georgia and their choice for a European future.”

For further information, please contact:

Office of David McAllister, Chair of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee: tel. +32 2 284 51 30, e-mail: david.mcallister@europarl.europa.eu

Office of Nils Ušakovs, Chair of the European Parliament’s delegation to the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee: tel. +32 2 284 54 09, e-mail: nils.usakovs@europarl.europa.eu

Office of Sergey Lagodinsky, Chair of the European Parliament's delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly: tel. +32 2 284 59 12, email: sergey.lagodinsky@europarl.europa.eu

Office of Rasa Juknevičienė, the European Parliament’s standing rapporteur for Georgia: tel. + 32 2 284 55 92, e-mail: rasa.jukneviciene@europarl.europa.eu