(Adnkronos) – In a report adopted Wednesday with 490 votes in favor, 147 against and 49 abstentions, the European Parliament defines the “rigged parliamentary elections” of October 2024 in Georgia “a clear turn towards authoritarian rule”, following which the Georgian Dream party “illegally appropriated state institutions, eliminated democratic guarantees, promoted repressive laws and repressed political opponents, journalists and peaceful demonstrators”. The text was supported by all Italian MEPs except Ilaria Salis (Avs, abstained) and the delegations of the League and the 5 Star Movement (opposed).
The MEPs’ request is to organize new parliamentary elections in the country, “to be held under independent international and national monitoring”. Until this happens, the text of the statement continues, the European Parliament “will continue not to recognize the current one-party parliament and president of Georgia” and invites European institutions and member states “to impose coordinated bilateral personal sanctions” against the main officials of Georgian Dream, as well as those responsible for the country’s democratic backsliding. MEPs also call for an immediate review of EU policy towards the country, including the implementation of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement.
MEPs reiterate their solidarity with the Georgian people and their “legitimate pro-European aspirations”, highlighting Georgian Dream’s deviation from the Euro-Atlantic trajectory and stressing that the upcoming municipal elections will not be truly democratic unless opposition politicians are released and voting conditions improve. “They also express deep concern about the current restrictive media environment in Georgia and the attacks on the political opposition, including statements by Georgian Dream leaders indicating the intention to declare opposition parties unconstitutional”.
