Key Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have issued a joint statement condemning the Georgian government’s intensified repressions against opposition leaders and peaceful protesters. The statement, issued by David McAllister (Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee), Nils Ušakovs (Chair of the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee), Sergey Lagodinsky (Chair of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly), and Rasa Juknevičienė (Standing Rapporteur for Georgia), sharply criticized the Georgian Dream government for its authoritarian measures and accused it of undermining Georgia’s democratic future.
“We condemn the escalating repressions… 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,” the statement reads, holding the Georgian Dream party accountable for the country’s “democratic backsliding” and distancing Georgia from its European integration process.
The MEPs called for targeted EU sanctions against Georgian leaders responsible for election irregularities and the repression of peaceful protesters. They also reiterated the need for sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is described as the political figure ultimately responsible for the current situation, including the suspension of EU accession talks.
In light of the ongoing crisis, the MEPs urged a rerun of the disputed elections under impartial supervision and in a fair and transparent environment. They also expressed strong support for President Salome Zourabichvili, commending her as a defender of democracy and European values in Georgia.
“The European Parliament stands with the brave people of Georgia and their choice for a European future,” the statement concluded, underscoring unwavering support for the democratic aspirations of the Georgian population.