If we truly want to protect democracy, sanctons against Bidzina Ivanishvili must be imposed now, British MEP James McCleary said during a debate on the situation in Georgia at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
“Today, Georgia is at a crossroads, not between East and West, but between democracy and authoritarianism. What was once a beacon of democracy in the region is now deviating from its course. The 2024 elections were supposed to be an opportunity for Georgia to reaffirm its commitment to democracy, but instead they revealed a disturbing truth. The Georgian Dream government is systematically destroying the very democracy it claims to defend. The regime is becoming increasingly authoritarian. Instead of leading Georgia to its rightful place in the European family, the current leadership has chosen a different path. A path that brings it even closer to the Kremlin,” said James McCleary.
He claimed that the arrest of Elene Khoshtaria, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, was not an isolated incident and is part of a strategy to suppress opposition opinion.
“Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Great Britain issued its verdict and ordered Irakli Rukhadze, the owner of the Georgian TV company Imedi, known for its pro-Russian propaganda, to pay millions. This verdict says a lot about the evil network that is undermining Georgian democracy. But we should not forget the central figure of this political swamp, Bidzina Ivanishvili. His huge personal wealth, ties to the Kremlin and control over Georgian institutions make him not only an influential person, but also a person who is destroying democracy. If we really want to protect democracy, then we must start with a clear and moral step. Sanctions must be imposed now against Ivanishvili and his associates, such as Rukhadze. The Georgian people have made their aspirations clear. They want to be part of Europe, not only geographically, but also politically, economically and morally. They are risking a lot to do so. Therefore, we must support them,” James McCleary noted.
