Senior Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have expressed grave concern over the worsening political crisis in Georgia, following reports of violence against political figures and peaceful demonstrators.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, David McAllister, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs; Sergey Lagodinsky, Chair of the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly; Nils Ušakovs, Chair of the Delegation for Relations with the South Caucasus; Rasa Juknevičienė, the European Parliament’s Standing Rapporteur for Georgia; and Antonio López-Istúriz White, Chair of the European Parliament’s Election Observation Mission for the 2024 elections, condemned the attack on former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and the broader crackdown on dissent.
“We are shocked by the violent assault on former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia in a Batumi hotel, which left him hospitalized. This incident reflects the escalating violence orchestrated by Georgian Dream and its allies against peaceful protesters and political dissidents,” the statement reads.
The MEPs commended the persistence of Georgian citizens, who have been demonstrating for over 50 days to demand a democratic and Euro-Atlantic future for their country. While reaffirming the European aspirations of the Georgian people, the statement criticized the Georgian Dream for undermining the nation’s democratic progress.
Highlighting concerns over the October 2024 parliamentary elections, the MEPs declared, “We do not recognize the results of these elections as they were fraudulent and failed to meet international democratic standards. We also do not acknowledge any decisions made by this illegitimate body.”
The statement emphasized support for President Salome Zourabichvili, whom the MEPs described as “the only clearly legitimate representative of the Georgian people’s will.”
Calling for decisive actions from the EU and its Member States, the MEPs urged:
* Personal sanctions against those responsible for Georgia’s democratic backsliding, including Bidzina Ivanishvili and Irakli Kobakhidze.
* The suspension of the EU-Georgia Association Council to avoid legitimizing Georgian Dream’s governance.
* Early parliamentary elections under improved conditions, managed by an independent election administration and monitored by international observers, to ensure a transparent and fair process reflecting the will of the Georgian people.
