By a joint decision of the Georgian Dream team, despite the fact that our mandate has been approved, we are ceasing our work in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE] from today. The Vice Speaker of the Parliament, Tea Tsulukiani, made such a statement at a briefing in Strasbourg.

“For several days, the PACE has been debating whether or not to approve the credentials of our parliamentary delegation. Many people, primarily our anti-state-minded opposition and a part of non-governmental organizations, have been fighting against the recognition of the credentials of the delegation of the new Georgian Parliament.

This plan failed first during the committee hearing, and then at the plenary session, where only 43 members of the 306-member Assembly supported the rejection of the credentials of the Georgian delegation. Accordingly, the credentials of the delegation of the new Parliament of Georgia were put to a final vote a few minutes ago and were approved.

However, the document on the recognition of credentials is accompanied by reservations. A number of reservations are unacceptable to us, because they are unfair and baseless.

In addition, the first reservation is categorically unacceptable, which goes beyond the competence of PACE, infringes on the sovereignty of our country, ignores the will of more than 1,120,000 voters. Accepting this reservation on our part would be tantamount to betraying our voters and, consequently, the vast majority of our society.

Based on all of the above, we, the members of the Georgian Parliament delegation in Strasbourg and Tbilisi, have deliberated and, by a common decision of the Georgian Dream team, despite the fact that our authority has been approved, are ceasing work in the PACE from today.

We believe that as long as the completely unjust and unfounded blackmail against the Government elected by the Georgian people continues, no importance is attached to evidence and facts, the discussions are biased and are distinguished by an insulting attitude towards the population of our country, participation of our parliamentary delegation in the PACE has no meaning and justification. Georgia, of course, as a state, remains a member of the Council of Europe.

The members of our parliamentary delegation will resume participation in the PACE only after the unfair attitude towards the Georgian state and the Georgian people changes, the blackmail will end, and each official and unofficial decision-maker, as well as the forces behind them, will understand well that such pressure will not force the Government elected by Georgia and its population to take any anti-Georgian steps. Thank you very much for your support and attention. We felt the support of each and every one of you from Tbilisi“, - said Tea Tsulukiani.