On 29 December, the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) countries, comprising Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden, issued a joint statement expressing grave concern about the situation in Georgia.
The NB8 ministers of foreign affairs called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the irregularities reported before and during the parliamentary elections held on 26 October. They condemned the violence and intimidation directed at peaceful protesters, politicians, and media representatives.
The statement emphasises, “We deplore the threats directed towards President Salome Zourabishvili.”
As long-standing friends of Georgia and supporters of the European aspirations of its people, the NB8 countries expressed alarm over the country’s increasing polarisation and the potential for a crisis.
The Nordic and Baltic nations assert that Georgia urgently needs a path out of the crisis to restore public trust in its democratic institutions. They urge the Georgian authorities to take immediate steps in this direction, including implementing OSCE electoral recommendations and considering the possibility of new elections based on these recommendations.
