The political council of the European People’s Party (EPP) on January 14 adopted an emergency resolution on Georgia.
MEP Rasa Juknevičienė released the resolution titled Emergency Resolution: Political Crisis in Georgia.
“Guided by the European aspiration of the people of Georgia, as enshrined in Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia;
Noting that the parliamentary elections of 26 October 2024 were deeply flawed, held in total violation of democratic norms and standards and did not reflect the will of the people of Georgia, rendering the new “Parliament” and “President” elected by it devoid of democratic legitimacy;
Taking note of the strongly negative assessment of local and international observation missions, including OSCE/ODHIR as well as the spirit of 28 November 2024 resolution on Georgia of the European Parliament;
Condemning the 28 November 2024 statement of Irakli Kobakhidze regarding the suspension of Georgia’s EU integration process;
Condemning the crackdown, illegal detention, torture, and inhuman treatment of civilians participating in continuous peaceful protests since 28 November, 2024;
Recalling that the United States has imposed sanctions on the leader of the Georgian Dream party Bidzina Ivanishvili,” reads the resolution.
The resolution calls on all members of the EPP to “refrain from recognizing the self-proclaimed regime of the Georgian Dream.”
1. Refrain from recognizing the self-proclaimed regime of the Georgian Dream as a legitimate government of Georgia. To this end, cease invitations for all official visits and participation of Georgian Dream officials in international fora; not recognize Georgian Dream credentials in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) so as to not render legitimacy;
2. Recognise Salome Zourabishvili as the legitimate President of Georgia and the sole legitimate representative of Georgia in international relations;
3. Urge the conduct of new elections in an improved electoral environment, managed by an independent and impartial election administration, with diligent international observation, to ensure a genuinely fair and transparent process.
4. Continue imposing targeted sanctions on Georgian Dream officials responsible for democratic backsliding, electoral fraud, state-sponsored terror, mass human rights violations and the persecution of political opponents and activists; particularly to call on the European Union and its member states to impose immediate and targeted sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, Irakli Kobakhidze, Kakha Kaladze, Irakli Gharibashvili, Shalva Papuashvili.
5. Support the use of all international human rights mechanisms, including in the OSCE, Council of Europe and the UN to investigate election fraud and violence against civilians;
6. Suspend all financial support and strategic partnerships with the Georgian Dream regime to prevent enabling its anti-democratic actions and strengthen collaboration with Georgia’s critical media, civil society organizations to foster resilience against authoritarianism, and to reassess all instruments of EU relations with Georgian authorities;
7. Severely limit formal EU-level contacts with the so-called Georgian Government and Parliament, including visits to Georgia that do not serve the purpose of conduct of new elections and release of political prisoners;
8. Advocate for the immediate release of all political prisoners charged with administrative or criminal “offenses” and who face possible multi-year sentence, as well as the immediate release of the third President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili;
9. Express strong support for the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the Georgian people, who continue manifesting on the streets of Georgian cities every evening;
10. Convene hearings in national parliaments to keep international attention and support on Georgia and its struggle against the Russian regime-style state takeover,” reads the resolution.