Political Assembly of the European People’s Party adopted a resolution regarding Georgia.

“Whereas the Georgian people anticipate their country’s advancement to a new stage of European integration to ensure a peaceful, democratic, secure and prosperous future;

Whereas over the last few months, we have seen a blatant disregard by the Georgian authorities of the 12 recommendations laid out by the European Commission as a way forward for Georgia to receive the EU membership candidate status;

Whereas the continued political imprisonment and the denial of an adequate medical treatment to ex-President, Ukrainian citizen and acting official Mikheil Saakashvili being held in Georgian prison as Putin’s personal captive, the recent decision of the Appeals’ Court to uphold the political charges against Mtavari TV Managing Director Nika Gvaramia, only exacerbates Georgia’s democratic regression and the Russian influence in the country resulted by Bidzina Ivanishvili’s oligarchic rule and the subsequent state capture in Georgia;

Having regard to the 9 June 2022 European Parliament resolution on Violations of Media Freedom and the Safety of Journalists in Georgia and the Resolution 2463 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Further Escalation in the Russian Federation’s Aggression Against Ukraine (Article 7);

Having regard to EPP’s previous concerns over the destructive personal role of the oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili in entrenching the oligarchic rule, the state capture and full control over the government and the democratic institutions in Georgia;

Whereas the European People’s Party has been a strong and long-time advocate and supporter of Georgia’s European integration;

The European People’s Party

Calls on the Georgian government to adhere to the will of the Georgian people and bring the country back to its European path by taking specific steps and implementing necessary reforms in the spirit of the EU 12 recommendations for the benefit of the Georgian people and their free, democratic and European future;

Calls on the Georgian government and parliament to clearly distance themselves from - and condemn - the hateful rhetoric and fake news promoted by representatives of the ruling majority against the European Union and the United States, accusing them of bargaining EU candidate status and of opening in Georgia a second front of war against Russia;

Calls on the Georgian government to end the political persecution against its political opponents and free media - ensure an immediate release and humanitarian transfer of ex-President Saakashvili to another country for an adequate medical treatment and release the Mtavari TV Managing Director Nika Gvaramia from prison;

Calls on the European Union and democratic partners to impose personal sanctions on the oligarch Ivanishvili for his role in sabotaging Georgia’s European integration and posing the threat to Georgia’s and regional security”, - reads the Resolution adopted by the EPP Political Assembly.