EU urges Georgian gov’t to meet Venice Commission recommendations, drop deoligarchisation bill

The European Union representation in Georgia on Wednesday urged the Georgian authorities to follow the Monday’s recommendations by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and “not to adopt” the controversial deoligarchisation bill. 

 

The Venice Commission recommended the Georgian authorities to implement various, systemic reforms rather than elaborating a “personalised approach” to prevent the influence of oligarchs on the country’s life. 

 

“EU supports the Venice Commission recommendations: better not to adopt the draft law on deoligarchisation given the described risks. The EU is ready to support the Georgian authorities to find a better way forward with a systemic approach. We can move forward stronger together”, the EU representation said. 

 

The ruling Georgian Dream party on Tuesday backed passing the bill with its second reading, claiming the Venice Commission’s recommendations “contradicted” one of 12 conditions outlined by the European Commission last year for granting Georgia the  European Union membership candidate status. 

 

The party leadership pledged to reject the bill after its adoption if the EU Commission removed its condition on deoligarchisation by December. 

 

The domestic opposition and NGOs claimed the fifth condition by the EU Commision – which urges the Georgian authorities to “implement the commitment to deoligarchisation by eliminating the excessive influence of vested interests in economic, political, and public life – did not oblige the authorities to initiate or adopt a specific law. 

 

They alleged the government targeted opposition by the law and also aimed to hamper the country’s European integration.

 

In his comments on Wednesday, Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling party, also said the “systemic approach” recommended by the Venice Commission would not resolve the issues related to excessive powers by certain individuals. 

 

In this context, he cited David Kekerashvili, the wanted former defence minister of Georgia, who he said was funding the “radical wing” of the domestic opposition and media outlets affiliated with them.