Opposition Discusses Sanctions Against CEC Senior Officials with European MPs

"They support this country’s aspiration to join the free world. Among other things, this was the will expressed by the majority of the population on October 26, a will they are now trying to undermine. It was noted that if Georgia’s path to European integration isn’t halted, we may lose the benefits the country currently enjoys in its relationship with Europe, including free trade, visa-free travel, and candidate status. All of this is now at risk. European integration has not stopped. We are moving forward," said Zurab Japaridze, a representative of the Coalition for Change.

According to another member of the coalition, Elene Khoshtaria, "absolutely all mechanisms" to pressure the Georgian Dream and support the Georgian people within the European Union are under consideration. Tina Bokuchava, leader of Unity - National Movement, proposed individual sanctions against the honorary chairman of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, and his associates, as well as a temporary suspension of visa-free travel.

"The decision to temporarily suspend visa-free travel can be made by EU member states, as they see that Ivanishvili's government has completely veered off the EU path. As you know, one of the EU’s requirements was for fair and free elections, a principle that was blatantly violated on October 26," said Tina Bokuchava.

According to Anna Dolidze, a member of the Strong Georgia coalition, sanctions against high-ranking officials of the Central Election Commission are under consideration.

"They are now operating at the level of systemic forgery. Discussions centered on what the European Union can do today to compel Georgian Dream to call for new elections and achieve international non-recognition of these elections. This includes considering sanctions against specific individuals, namely employees and high-ranking officials of the Central Election Commission, who orchestrated the fraud.

We discussed all mechanisms, including the international investigation, which is feasible. The question is simply how it can be structured, as we are urgently calling for an investigation to begin immediately - February or March would be too late. Legally, there are many investigative tools available, which could be employed by the European Parliament, the European Commission, or the OSCE. We are also discussing economic measures; it is important to continue supporting the people. The European Union is ready. Now, the bureaucracy must work to implement this," said Dolidze.

The chairpersons of the foreign relations committees from the parliaments of Germany, Finland, Sweden, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland are currently in Georgia, expressing concerns over the October 26 parliamentary elections. According to Michael Roth, a Bundestag member, the European Union cannot recognize the election as legitimate until it is clarified.

European MPs were hosted by the President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, while the Speaker of Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, declined to attend, accusing the delegation members of "sowing trouble in the name of Europe," interfering in the elections, and disregarding the country's constitution.

As per Central Election Commission data, 53.93% of voters (1 120 011 voters) supported Georgian Dream in the October 26 parliamentary elections. The legitimacy of this result is contested by opposition parties that crossed the threshold, with votes distributed as follows:

• Coalition for Change (11.037%)
• Unity - National Movement (10.164%)
• Strong Georgia (8.814%)
• Gakharia for Georgia (7.771%)

President Salome Zourabichvili also believes the elections were "totally falsified."