The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling for new elections in Georgia and sanctioning Georgian Dream officials and judges.
The full resolution:
“We call on the European Union and its member states to impose personal sanctions on the officials and political leaders in Georgia responsible for the democratic backsliding, electoral violations, administrative violence and abuse of state institutions, among them Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Tbilisi Mayor and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party Kakha Kaladze, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, and Georgian Dream Chairman Irakli Garibashvili, which will also apply to judges who have made politically motivated decisions; we reiterate our call on the Council and the EU’s democratic partners to immediately impose targeted personal sanctions on Ivanishvili and freeze all his assets within the EU for his role in undermining the political process in Georgia.
“The international community should not recognize the results of the elections; while refusing to recognize the elections, we call for the re-organization of parliamentary elections within one year – in an improved electoral environment and by an independent and impartial election administration, under diligent international observation, in order to ensure a truly fair and transparent electoral process.
“We underline that respect for fundamental rights is vital for meeting the EU’s visa liberalization criteria, and call on the European Commission and the Council to review the visa-free status granted to Georgia, with its possible suspension if EU standards on democratic governance and freedoms are deemed not to be met;
“We call on the EU to strictly limit official contacts at EU level with the Georgian government and parliament;
“We call on the Council, the Commission, the EEAS and the new HRVP to conduct a comprehensive review and revision of the EU policy towards Georgia;
“We call on the Commission to use the frozen €120 million in support intended for the Georgian authorities to support Georgian civil society, in particular the non-governmental sector and independent media, which are increasingly under pressure from the ruling party;
We welcome the proposal by the High Representative, Josep Borrell, to this effect,” the document states.
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