European People’s Party: Georgian elections raise concerns over state of democracy

The European People’s Party (EPP) says that the October 2 municipal elections in Georgia ‘have raised our concerns over the state of democracy and freedom in the country.’ 

 

“The reports of international observers underlined reduced democratic standards, a lack of free and fair election environment, an uneven playing field, misuse of administrative resources, violations and hate speech,” EPP said. 

 

The party claims that the arrest and ‘political persecution’ of former President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, who was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1,’further increases the tensions and political polarisation within the country’.

 

“Over the last few days, leading figures of the ruling party have made intolerant and provocative speeches, once again highlights the politically motivated justice in Georgia, which remains our deep concern,” EPP stated. 

 

EPP called on the Georgian government to improve the political environment, to guarantee free and fair elections in the second round and to ‘stop the persecution of political opponents.’ 

 

Saakashvili was arrested a day before Georgian municipal elections.  He said he returned after eight years to save the country from the Georgian Dream leadership and encouraged voters to help the UNM win the municipal elections, which would be a step forward to early parliamentary elections.  Saakashvili was convicted in Georgia in absentia back in 2018 for abuse of authority in two separate cases and was sentenced to six years in prison.  He has already been charged with four other cases which concern illegal take-over of property, embezzlement, illegal rally dispersal and illegally crossing the border.