Borrell: Parliamentary elections are crucial test for Georgia’s democracy and its EU path

The upcoming parliamentary elections on October 26 will be a decisive test for Georgia’s democracy and its European aspirations, said Josep Borrell, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Borrell expressed concerns over recent actions and statements made by Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, noting that they signal a shift towards authoritarianism. He emphasized that such moves are distancing the country from its European path.

“We discussed the situation in Moldova and Georgia. Both countries are approaching critical elections in the coming weeks. While Moldova is making significant progress on its path towards the EU despite growing intimidation from Russia, the outlook for Georgia is bleaker in comparison. The ruling party’s recent actions, statements, and electoral promises are steering the country away from Europe, signaling a drift towards authoritarianism. This is why the EU accession process is effectively frozen. You are aware of the Commission’s recent decision regarding European funding. Let’s wait for the upcoming parliamentary elections, which will be a decisive test for Georgia’s democracy and its European future,” Borrell stated.

The remarks came during Monday’s EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, chaired by Borrell, where EU foreign ministers discussed the situation in Georgia.