Georgia’s Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, suspended his country’s application process for EU membership until the end of 2028. This decision followed a condemnation by the European Parliament regarding Georgia’s parliamentary elections held on 26 October, stating they were deemed neither free nor fair.
Following the Georgian government’s decision, leading Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) issued a Statement expressing concerns about the rights of Georgia’s pro-European citizens.
“We regret the Georgian government’s decision to pause the efforts to start the accession negotiations with the EU, as announced on 28 November by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. We recall that it was the sovereign decision of Georgia to apply for EU membership in March 2022 and that it was granted candidate status in December 2023. Instead of using this historic opportunity and moving forward with the accession process, there has been a continuous democratic backsliding in Georgia,” the Statement highlights.
MEPs reiterate that the last parliamentary elections did not respect international standards for democratic elections.
The Statement emphasises that “the reported electoral fraud undermines the integrity of the election process and the legitimacy of the new government“.
As the police used violence against peaceful pro-European Georgians who took to the streets to protest against the government’s plan to stop the EU integration process, MEPs expressed their concern about their rights.
“We condemn the use of violence against them and call on the relevant authorities to stop using force against peaceful protesters. We reiterate that the right to peaceful assembly is a fundamental right which needs to be rigorously respected”.
MEPs recall their unwavering support for the Georgian people’s legitimate European aspirations and their wish to live in a prosperous and democratic country.
“We will continue to support the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Georgian people and assist civil society and pro-democratic movements to steer the country back towards a democratic and European path.”
