The Seimas urged the Parliament of Georgia to withdraw the adopted law “on transparency of foreign influence”, to ensure freedom of association and freedom of expression, to foster the country’s civil society, to engage in dialogue with it, and to uphold the constitutional commitment of further pursuing integration into the EU and NATO and continuing necessary reforms.
The resolution adopted by the Seimas expresses deep concern regarding this law adopted by the Parliament of Georgia, as this law, aimed at restricting the activities of non-governmental organisations and civil society, is essentially equivalent to the Russian’s “foreign agents law” and is incompatible with European values and democratic principles.
‘Actions of Georgia’s Government are not in line with the aspirations of Georgia’s society and the goals of integration into the EU and NATO declared by the country and may have serious long-term consequences for the country’s geopolitical orientation and democracy,’ reads the adopted document.
As one of the initiators of this resolution Raimundas Lopata, Member of the Seimas, said at the sitting of the Seimas, Georgia is divided, there are increasingly more questions being raised about the state of democracy, and the drift away from Europe is becoming increasingly evident. ‘Our resolution reflects concerns over Georgia,’ said the MP.
The Seimas strongly condemned the use of violence against peaceful protesters and against journalists reporting on the demonstrations, as well as the organised campaign of defamation, intimidation, and direct physical violence against representatives of civil society and emphasised that such actions aimed at suppressing peaceful assemblies and freedom of expression are unacceptable, particularly in an EU candidate country.
The Lithuanian Parliament also expressed support for the Georgian people in their defence of the right to freely express their civic position and their country’s European future.
The document notes that the Seimas endorses the international statements already issued on the recent developments in Georgia: the statement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of 1 May 2024, the joint statement by the Nordic and Baltic Foreign Ministers (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden) of 10 May 2024, the statement by High Representative Josep Borrell with the European Commission of 15 May 2024.
The Seimas also urged the EU institutions to consider the possibility of responsive measures if the Georgian government rejects President Salome Zourabichvili’s veto, proceeds with implementing this law, and continues the persecution of civil society.
The EU, having assessed the European choice of Georgia’s society, granted candidate country status to Georgia in December 2023, subject to the full implementation of the remaining nine steps set out by the European Commission.
This Seimas Resolution was adopted by 93 votes in favour, with 5 votes against and 10 abstentions.
