The European Union’s latest report effectively and formally states that Georgia has nothing democratic or free left and that the country’s path toward European integration has come to an end, stated Grigol Gegelia, a member of Lelo – Strong Georgia.
Gegelia said the report indicates that Georgian democracy has been “completely destroyed.”
“We are no longer even in the phase of apparent authoritarianism, but have moved into a fully-fledged dictatorship. Nor are we any longer in the phase of even apparent European integration, because we have moved into a situation where the process has been completely suspended,” Gegelia said.
He argued that the government’s policies had brought Georgia’s European integration process to a complete halt despite the choice of the Georgian people.
“As long as this course remains in place, as long as this regime does not change, there will be no European integration — not this year, not next year, not in 2030, and never, as long as this regime governs Georgia,” he said.
Gegelia claimed that the EU report delivers two key conclusions.
“First, Georgian democracy has been completely destroyed; second, Georgia’s path toward European integration has been completely suspended. Accordingly, it is now up to us — the Georgian people — and our appropriate, dignified and principled steps to free this country from the Russian scourge and restore national and European principles,” Gegelia said.
The comments follow the publication of the European Union’s annual report on human rights and democracy, which includes an assessment of developments in Georgia.
Related story: ‘Significant democratic backsliding’: What the EU’s new report says about Georgia
