The MEPs discussed the political crisis in Georgia during the plenary session.

European lawmakers are calling on their Georgian counterparts to engage in dialogue to defuse tensions. They welcome the appointment of Charles Michel’s personal representative in Georgia, Christian Danielson.

MPs hope that EU-backed mediation will work. One of the topics discussed during the discussion was the detention of Nika Melia, the leader of the United National Movement:

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Joseph Borrell: “Unfortunately, the political situation in the country is a matter of serious concern. Due to the increased political polarization in recent months, this situation threatens to undermine Georgia"s democracy.
Georgia remains a key EU associate partner. We have an ambitious association agreement with Georgia, which offers Georgia significant political association and economic integration with the European Union. However, unfortunately, the political situation in the country is a matter of serious concern, given the increased political polarization in recent months. This situation threatens to undermine Georgia"s democracy. It is now very important that all parties intensify their efforts to de-escalate the situation.
The President of the European Council has recently visited Georgia and met with the President of Georgia, the Prime Minister and the leaders of the main opposition parties. During this visit, he was involved in discussions between political parties and after returning from Georgia, in collaboration with the High Representative, he mandated Christian Danielsson last night to join the EU-backed mediation process. We expect the Georgian parties to make progress as a result of the dialogue, we will actively monitor this process. The head of the EU delegation to Georgia will also take part in the mediation process.
All parties must contribute to a compromise agreement. All parties must refrain from provocative actions. The EU prioritizes the consolidation of democracy, including electoral reform, political stability and an inclusive parliamentary process. Fair, independent and accountable judiciary is also of paramount importance. These are our preconditions for Georgia to further deepen its partnership with the European Union, through the Association Agreement”.

MEP Marketa Gregorova: “Georgia can get back to the right path, continue to reform the electoral and judicial system, release political prisoners such as Giorgi Rurua or Nika Melia, and allow citizens to decide who should represent them in a just system.
The March 8 agreement was reached in Georgia almost a year ago, after many months of internal unrest. We are here, on March 9, a year after the promises and in a much worse situation. I’m sorry to see this, but I do not want to dwell on this feeling - last year Georgia managed to get out of the crisis and carry out electoral reform. We stood by Georgia then, we helped them and, of course, we can still help. Georgia can get back on the right path, continue to reform the electoral and judicial system, release political prisoners like Mr. Rurua, as promised in the March 8 agreement, and Mr. Melia, and allow citizens to decide who should represent them in a just system, without doubts about the fairness of the election. To do this, we must be there, show more support and give a strong mandate to the team, the ambassadors of the EU and other countries, in order to assist them in the mediation process. What President Michel started was a glorious step and the first step, let us continue what he and we have done and help our neighbors, help our friends!”.

Riho Terras (EPP, Estonia): “Let me join the ranks of the colleagues who have voiced their concern about what is taking place in Georgia. We, the European Union, cannot tolerate raiding of the office of the main opposition party and imprisonment of its chairman. How can we expect the opposition to negotiate, if one of the negotiating parties has been put behind the bars? Finally, the EU must have strong leverage over Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is acting as a puppeteer. He is not leading from behind, he is leading from behind the curtains”.

Petras Auštrevičius (Renew Europe, Lithuania): “Recent political events in Georgia illustrate a systematic political crisis that prevents further democratic consolidation. The fact that Georgia ranks 91st among 165 countries in the last year’s Democracy Index, reconfirms the seriousness of the situation. Georgia can be commended for its open economy and structural reform efforts, but we cannot ignore a long list of work in progress in the political field. Georgia in political crisis cannot become a hostage of fruitless deliberations as the society demands continuous progress in fulfilling its pro-European ambitions… I welcome the timely visit of President Michel to Tbilisi… Either of the conflict sides should not interpret his six-point plan, including a possibility of holding early elections, as carte blanche. Resolving such a severe political crisis requires involvement, compromise, mutual respect, and full adherence to reaching an agreement on both sides. Actors of the Georgian political system must understand that the citizens’ trust in government and the public institutions, independent judiciary, and media, and inclusive power-sharing are key prerequisites in justifying Georgia’s European aspirations”.