The ECR Group welcomes the overwhelming support with which the European Parliament has condemned the democratic setbacks and threats to political pluralism in Georgia.

Speaking in the debate, ECR shadow rapporteur on the resolution Rihards Kols said: “What we are witnessing in Georgia is nothing less than a deliberate attempt to dismantle democracy”.

The country has recently experienced a worrying democratic decline, mainly due to the actions of the ruling party, Georgian Dream. The weakening of democratic institutions and the rise of authoritarian tendencies are in line with Russia’s strategy of distancing Georgia from the EU and NATO, and pushing it towards greater dependence on Moscow.

Kols said:

“The actions of the current government, however, put the future at risk. It is vital that the upcoming elections meet the highest standards of transparency, fairness, and freedom.

“While the government may try to manipulate the narrative, the aspirations of the Georgian people for a democratic, pro-European future cannot and will not be silenced. Their democratic will must prevail.”

The ECR Group stresses the importance of the release of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, whose arrest is considered an abuse of political power. In the view of ECR MEPs, the forthcoming elections in Georgia on 26 October are likely to be the most important since the Rose Revolution, as they will determine the country’s direction for the next few years or even decades.

The text was adopted with 495 votes in favour, 73 against and 86 abstentions.