Danish Ambassador condemns Georgia's democratic backsliding, urges EU action

In a statement posted on X, Danish Ambassador to Georgia Anne Toft Sørensen criticized what she described as "disproportionate measures" taken by the Georgian Government against opposition leader Zurab Japaridze and warned of the implications of laws designed to restrict opposition activity.

“🇩🇰 expresses deep concern over the disproportionate measures taken against the 🇬🇪 opposition leader Zurab Japaridze, as well as the recent adoption of legislation aimed at restricting political opposition activity,” Sørensen wrote. “🇩🇰 supports targeted measures & united EU action in response to Georgia’s democratic backsliding.”

The ambassador’s comments come amid growing international scrutiny of Georgia’s ruling authorities, who have faced mounting criticism for undermining democratic norms and civil liberties.

Japaridze, leader of the More Freedom – Girchi party and a prominent figure in the Coalition for Change, was placed in pre-trial detention on May 22 after Judge Irakli Shvangiradze approved the prosecution’s motion to replace his 20,000 GEL bail with incarceration. The bail had been imposed in April after Japaridze refused to appear before a parliamentary commission — a refusal he described as an act of principle against a politically motivated process.

He is charged under Article 349 of Georgia’s Criminal Code for disobeying a court order, a crime that could carry up to one year in prison. His trial remains ongoing.

The ruling Georgian Dream party established the temporary investigative parliamentary commission in question on February 5 to investigate alleged abuses during the United National Movement’s time in power. However, domestic civil society groups and international observers have widely criticized the commission as a political tool designed to intimidate and discredit opposition figures.