“We are seriously concerned political crisiswhich took place in Georgia after the parliamentary elections of October 26 and the decision of the Georgian Dream party freezing the EU accession process. The cause of this crisis is the political direction chosen by the Georgian ruling party and its departure from the European path,” we read in a statement published on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“We have repeatedly called on the Georgian authorities to change this direction and return to integration with the EU by applying European norms and values and implementing reforms,” it was emphasized.
Georgia. The Weimar Triangle reacts to events in the Caucasus
Ministers also condemned acts of violence against peaceful protestersthe media and opposition leaders that have taken place in recent weeks. “We call on the Georgian authorities to be responsible for respecting human rights and protecting fundamental freedoms, including freedom of assembly and media freedom. We condemn in the strongest terms the threats addressed to politicians,” they noted.
According to the ministers, the political direction of the repression and moving away from democracyThe path taken by the Georgian Dream party has led to the deterioration of our relations at European and national level and to the reduction of our support for and cooperation with the Georgian authorities. “We will therefore implement the EU decision on abolition of visa-free travel for Georgian holders of diplomatic and service passports and will consider additional measures at EU and national level,” they added.
They also recalled that the OSCE/ODIHR final report on the parliamentary elections in Georgia of 26 October confirmed their concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, including widespread irregularities and improper proceedings in response to allegations. “The elections were not conducted in accordance with the standards expected from an EU candidate,” they noted.
A call for new elections in Georgia. Poland among the signatories of the appeal
The Weimar Triangle Foreign Ministers called on the Georgian authorities to engage in a national dialogue with all interested parties in order to find a way out of the current situation and restore public trust in Georgian democracy.
“Call for the implementation of OSCE/ODIHR recommendations and standards, incl possibility of holding new electionscoming from part of Georgian society deserves that the authorities enter into a sincere dialogue with all political forces and representatives of civil society,” they added, also assuring their determination to support the democratic and European aspirations of the Georgian people.
Protests in Georgia have been ongoing since late November, when the ruling Georgian Dream party suspended until 2028 negotiations on Georgia's accession to the EU. The demonstrators are demanding the announcement of a new date for the parliamentary elections, because – according to the pro-Western opposition – the elections in October were full of irregularities.
Georgia. Mikheil Kavelashvili is the new president
Among the 300 electors who made up the college, they cast their votes for the newly elected president 224. The opposition boycotted the electionswho refused to take part in the vote.
Already at the beginning of his term as head of state signed as many as 28 acts. Mikheil Kavelashvili accepted, among others, regulations prohibiting protesters from covering their faces. The new law also hit the former president – Salome Zurabishvili she lost state protection. The politician warned of a “new wave of violence and repression” in the country.