German Bundestag adopted a resolution entitled “A European Future for Georgia”, which highlights the country’s democratic backsliding. The resolution calls on the German Federal Government to take concrete action against the government of Georgia.

The motion was initiated by the coalition factions SPD, Alliance 90/The Greens and FDP (20/13222). The coalition factions voted in favor, the Union faction, the AfD faction and the BSW group voted against. The Left group abstained.

“All the major political forces in the country have in the past proclaimed membership of the EU and NATO as objectives. At the same time, there have been signs for some years of increasing polarisation between the governing party, Georgian Dream, and a large proportion of the opposition and civil society. The increasingly authoritarian and socially divisive governing style of Georgian Dream is one of the causes behind the heightening of political disagreements in the run-up to the parliamentary elections on 26 October 2024. The goal of holding onto power for the honorary chairman and founder of the party, Georgian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, is being prioritised higher than Georgia’s European future and democratic stability.

The Bundestag considers it a grave mistake to have conclusively adopted the law on the so-called „transparency of foreign influence“… In adopting it, the Georgian Government has broken with the EU in a way that contradicts the constitutional objective and deeply held wish of the Georgian people to pursue European integration. The public has held peaceful, inter-generational and united protests for many weeks calling for the law to be repealed. The peaceful protesters have the solidarity and the recognition of the German Bundestag.

A free environment for independent media and civil-society players is crucial to a functioning democracy and to Georgia’s European journey.

The independent cultural sector in Georgia is one of the driving forces of democratic protest and a key component of an open and democratic society. The Bundestag emphasises the need to protect the rights of cultural practitioners and safeguard artistic freedom and independence. This includes ensuring that the management of public cultural institutions is independent of governmental influence.

For Georgia, the coming parliamentary election is becoming a choice of direction on the democratic and constitutional nature of the state and on the country’s European journey. The attacks on independent election observation organisations, the adverse effects of the law on the so-called „transparency of foreign influence“ on their ability to do their work, the recent changes to electoral law which boost the influence of the governing party within the Central Election Commission, and the mobilisation of administrative resources to support the policies of Georgian Dream cast doubt on the equality and freedom of the upcoming parliamentary elections. The parliamentary elections must be held in an environment that is fair and free of violence and which facilitates respectful and peaceful engagement with political issues. In the interests of its citizens, as an EU accession candidate, and as a member of the Council of Europe and the OSCE, Georgia must respect and protect those fundamental principles for democratic elections. In light of this, the Bundestag welcomes Georgia’s invitation to the ODIHR to observe elections. The international community is called upon to scrutinise the upholding of democratic principles in the Georgian parliamentary elections. The German Bundestag stands ready to take part in the election observation mission in Georgia”, - reads the resolution.