The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has adopted a resolution titled “The situation of local and regional democracy in Georgia” with 101 votes in favor, 10 against, and 3 abstentions. The resolution highlights concerns over democratic backsliding, rule of law challenges, human rights issues, and public distrust in democratic institutions.
The Congress criticized amendments to Georgia’s Electoral Code that reinforce the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party’s dominance, stating that these changes undermine trust in the upcoming 2025 local elections. It also pointed to the marginalization of the opposition, lack of political dialogue, and increasing concentration of power in the ruling party’s hands, which has led to opposition boycotts of decision-making bodies.
The resolution raises alarms over the intimidation of civil society and dissenting voices, particularly in the context of the recently adopted Foreign Agents Law and the pending Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The Congress emphasized the need to protect freedom of expression, even when it is critical of the government.
Concerns were also expressed about the repression of peaceful protesters and opposition figures, which the Congress says violates fundamental freedoms. The resolution further noted the politicization of public institutions, reports of pressure on civil servants, and misuse of administrative resources during election campaigns.
Addressing Georgia’s electoral framework, the Congress criticized amendments that reinforce GD’s influence over the Central Election Commission, warning that this further undermines the commission’s independence. It concluded that these systemic shortcomings have eroded public confidence in democratic institutions, especially among young people, and that the 2025 local elections risk worsening the situation.
The Congress instructed its Monitoring Committee to continue its work on ensuring free and fair local elections but decided to postpone its monitoring visit on the European Charter of Local Self-Government until after the elections. It also expressed readiness to conduct a high-level visit to assess Georgia’s progress in implementing its recommendations, with the participation of the Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights.
Furthermore, the resolution calls on the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia to ensure that all local governments are fairly represented, not just those aligned with the ruling party. The Congress reaffirmed its support for the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Georgia (2024-2027) and pledged to maintain discussions on Georgia’s local democracy until the recommendations are fully implemented.
The Congress reiterated its willingness to continue its political dialogue with Georgia’s delegation to facilitate democratic reforms and the implementation of its recommendations.
