The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has adopted a set of recommendations concerning Georgia, following a vote held during its session. A total of 97 delegates supported the recommendations, while 12 voted against and eight abstained.
The vote followed a debate on the draft text, which addresses concerns over political polarization, electoral standards, and the state of local democracy in the country.
In its recommendations, the Congress calls on the Georgian authorities to urgently resume political dialogue at all levels of government through an inclusive process involving all stakeholders. The aim, it said, is to reduce polarization and restore the system of checks and balances necessary for a pluralistic democracy. The body also urged the implementation of its previous recommendations, as well as the opinions of the Venice Commission, to ensure that local governance aligns with the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government.
The Congress further called for the repeal of what it described as problematic amendments to Georgia’s Electoral Code and for a comprehensive reform of the electoral framework. According to the recommendations, such reform should be preceded by broad consultations and should ensure the independence of the Central Election Commission while addressing key shortcomings in the electoral system.
Among other key points, the Congress urged the authorities to halt the criminalization of opposition voices and to repeal legislative changes that could facilitate the banning of opposition parties. It also called for the immediate reintroduction of gender quotas and for strengthening mechanisms to increase women’s participation in local politics.
The recommendations also emphasize the need to repeal amendments that restrict election observation and to return to the practice of systematically inviting the Congress to monitor local elections. The document highlights that genuine political dialogue remains a necessary precondition for meaningful reform.
In addition, the Congress called on the Georgian authorities to repeal legislation that may violate human rights and to refrain from actions that could further hinder the work of civil society and independent media or undermine the foundations of local democracy. It also urged thorough investigations into reports of violence, particularly against detainees and protesters, and called for the release of detained journalists and political leaders.
The adopted recommendations reflect ongoing concerns within the Council of Europe regarding democratic standards and governance in Georgia, and are expected to contribute to continued dialogue between the country and European institutions.
