PACE Co-Rapporteurs to visit Georgia amid political crisis, EU accession suspension

The co-rapporteurs for Georgia from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Claude Kern (France, ALDE) and Edite Estrela (Portugal, SOC), will visit Tbilisi from 14 to 16 January 2025 as part of the ongoing monitoring procedure, the PACE said on Friday.

The mission aims to assess Georgia’s compliance with its obligations and commitments as a Council of Europe member, particularly in light of the political unrest following the October elections and the recent suspension of EU accession negotiations.

During their visit, the co-rapporteurs will hold meetings with Georgia’s political leaders, government officials, key institutions, civil society representatives, and members of the international community. This visit is part of PACE’s regular monitoring process and is not intended to endorse the views or legitimacy of the individuals they meet.

In addition to their meetings, the co-rapporteurs plan to visit some of the protesters who have been detained during the recent demonstrations. The charges and detention of these individuals have raised significant concerns regarding human rights and freedom of assembly. In response to these concerns, the President of the Assembly, after consulting with the co-rapporteurs, requested an urgent opinion from the Venice Commission on the Code of Administrative Offences, particularly regarding its impact on the right to peaceful assembly.