Condemning the stolen election in Georgia and supporting the country in its European path

Written declaration No. 803 | Doc. 16098 | 23 April 2025

Signatories:

Mr Gustaf GÖTHBERG, Sweden, EPP/CD ; Ms Boriana ÅBERG, Sweden, EPP/CD ; Mr Knut ABRAHAM, Germany, EPP/CD ; Ms Larysa BILOZIR, Ukraine, ALDE ; Mr François BONNEAU, France, ALDE ; Mr Christophe BRICO, Monaco, EPP/CD ; Mr Christophe CHAILLOU, France, SOC ; Lord Michael GERMAN, United Kingdom, ALDE ; Mr Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Ukraine, ECPA ; Mr Yuriy KAMELCHUK, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Ms Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, North Macedonia, SOC ; Ms Yevheniia KRAVCHUK, Ukraine, ALDE ; Mr Eerik-Niiles KROSS, Estonia, ALDE ; Ms Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Finland, SOC ; Ms Hanah LAHE, Estonia, ALDE ; Ms Carmen LEYTE, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Michael Georg LINK, Germany, ALDE ; Mr Arminas LYDEKA, Lithuania, ALDE ; Ms Mariia MEZENTSEVA-FEDORENKO, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Ms Olena MOSHENETS, Ukraine, ALDE ; Mr Ryszard PETRU, Poland, ALDE ; Ms Agnieszka POMASKA, Poland, EPP/CD ; Mr Gonzalo ROBLES, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Alexander RYLE, Denmark, ALDE ; Ms Ingjerd Schie SCHOU, Norway, EPP/CD ; Mr Serhii SOBOLIEV, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Ms Victoria TIBLOM, Sweden, ECPA ; Mr Rostyslav TISTYK, Ukraine, ECPA ; Mr Markus WIECHEL, Sweden, ECPA ; Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD

This written declaration does not reflect the position of the Assembly; only of those members that have signed it. It will not be considered further by the Assembly.

We, the undersigned, declare the following:

On 26 October 2024, the elections in Georgia were stolen from the people. The Parliamentary Assembly delegation concluded that it is highly doubtful that “the election results truly reflect the will of the voters”, pointing to the politicisation of State institutions, a widespread climate of intimidation, uneven playing field and serious democratic backsliding as the main obstacles to free and fair elections.

The anomalies in final results that enabled Georgian Dream party to claim “victory” have not been investigated nor explained. Moreover, the Georgian Parliament was convened in violation of the Constitution and therefore has no legitimate powers.

The authorities of Georgia have continued with democratic backsliding resulting in a grave constitutional crisis. Legislation to further repress civil society and opposition has been proposed. Unprecedented violence, illegal arrests, arbitrary detentions, intimidation of ordinary Georgians and torture of pro-democracy protesters are increasing, and of great concern.

We call on the Assembly not to ratify the credentials of the Georgian delegation at the January 2025 part-session and condemn the violence orchestrated by the authorities. We also call on the Assembly to demand the immediate release of all political prisoners and recognise President Salome Zourabichvili as the sole legitimate authority in Georgia until new elections are held.