The European Parliament adopted a resolution with 444 votes in favour and 10 against, calling on the EU to impose sanctions on Irakli Kobakhidze and other high-ranking officials. The resolution also asserts that parliamentary elections in Georgia should be re-held under international supervision. A total of 72 MEPs voted against the resolution, while 82 abstained.
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As per a statement published on the European Parliament’s website, the October 26 elections, which were neither free nor fair, represent yet another instance of the country’s ongoing democratic backsliding, for which the ruling Georgian Dream party bears full responsibility.
MEPs denounce the numerous and serious electoral violations, including documented cases of intimidation of voters, vote manipulation, interference with election observers and media and reported manipulation involving electronic voting machines. The vote results announced by the country’s Central Election Commission “do not serve as a reliable representation of the will of the Georgian people”.
Parliament rejects any recognition of the parliamentary elections as a result, as the international community should too, and MEPs want the elections re-run within a year under thorough international supervision and by an independent election administration.
While supporting calls for an independent international investigation into the allegations of electoral manipulation, Parliament wants the EU and its member states to impose personal sanctions on the officials and political leaders in Georgia who are responsible for democratic backsliding, violations of electoral laws and standards, and the misuse of state institutions.
This includes Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party Kakha Kaladze, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili and former Prime Minister and oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili.
MEPs also call on the EU to severely restrict formal EU-level contacts with the Georgian government and parliament, while stating clearly that Georgia, as a result of recently adopted anti-democratic legislation, including the ‘law on transparency and foreign influence.
Parliament also strongly condemns Russia’s systematic interference in Georgia’s democratic processes, through disinformation such as the ‘Global War Party’ conspiracy, which claims that the country’s opposition would supposedly drag the country into war with Russia under orders from the West.
MEPs issue a severe warning to Georgian authorities that any attempts to ban legally established political parties would further alienate the country from the EU and make any moves towards EU accession impossible. They also say that the policies implemented by Georgian Dream are incompatible with Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration.
The resolution on Georgia’s worsening democratic crisis following the recent parliamentary elections and alleged electoral fraud, was drafted by five groups in the European Parliament: the European People's Party (EPP), the Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), Renew Europe, and the Greens (Verts/ALE).
