The draft resolution was published, which will be voted on in the European Parliament on October 9.
According to the draft resolution, the European Parliament calls on the European Union to introduce personal sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili and all those who undermine democracy in Georgia.
In addition, the document talks about the release of Mikheil Saakashvili.
In addition, the draft resolution also talks about the assessment of visa liberalization criteria.
More specifically, according to the draft resolution, [the European Parliament] deeply regrets the democratic backsliding in Georgia, which is increasing during the current year, especially in the run-up to the parliamentary elections on 26 October 2024;Draft resolution:Strongly condemns the adoption of laws on "transparency of foreign influence" and "family values and protection of minors", as well as amendments to the election code;believes that these are tools used by the government to violate freedom of expression, censor the media, limit critical voices in civil society and the non-governmental sector, or discriminate against vulnerable people;emphasizes that this is incompatible with the values and democratic principles of the European Union, contradicts the ambitions of Georgia to join the European Union, damages the international reputation of Georgia and endangers the Euro-Atlantic integration of the country;Emphasizes that until the above legislation is repealed, it is impossible to achieve progress in Georgia's relations with the European Union; It laments that Georgia, once a champion of democratic progress with Euro-Atlantic aspirations, has been in a "free fall" of democratic deterioration for a significant period of time.
[The European Parliament] condemns the personal role of Georgian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who returned to active politics on December 30, 2023, when he became the "honorary chairman" of the "Georgian Dream" party, in the current political crisis and in digging the foundation for the country's Euro-Atlantic orientation in order to turn to Russia;The [European Parliament] once again calls on the [European] Council and the democratic partners of the European Union to impose immediate and targeted personal sanctions on Ivanishvili for his role in the deterioration of the political process in Georgia;[European Parliament] calls on the EU and its member states to hold accountable and introduce personal sanctions against all those responsible for undermining democracy in Georgia, complicit in violence against political opponents and peaceful demonstrators, and those spreading anti-Western disinformation; [European Parliament] welcomes the personal sanctions introduced by the US against Georgian Dream officials.
[European Parliament] notes that on December 14 and 15, 2023, the European Council granted Georgia the status of a candidate country in the sense that appropriate steps would be taken based on the recommendations published by the European Commission on November 8, 2023;[The European Parliament] emphasizes that the recently adopted laws clearly contradict this ambition and have stopped Georgia's integration into the European Union.
[European Parliament] reiterates its call on the European Commission to rapidly assess the impact on Georgia's ongoing implementation of visa liberalization requirements, particularly the fundamental rights requirement, which is a key component of the EU's visa liberalization policy, the "transparency of foreign influence" and "family values and protection of minors" laws, the abolition of gender quotas and other changes in the electoral legislation, the implementation of the recommendations of the Venice Commission and the conduct of elections in accordance with accepted international standards.
[European Parliament] reiterates the demand for the immediate and unconditional release of former President Mikheil Saakashvili on humanitarian grounds so that he may receive medical assistance abroad;[The European Parliament] emphasizes that the Government of Georgia bears full and undisputed responsibility for the life, health, safety and well-being of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, and should be fully responsible for any harm caused to him.
