The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has officially summoned the Georgian Chargé d’Affaires in response to what it described as an alarming crackdown on civil society, independent media, and opposition voices in Georgia.
During the meeting, a senior British official expressed the UK government’s deep concern over Georgia’s “increasingly harmful trajectory” and condemned what it called false narratives and public attacks directed by the ruling Georgian Dream party against the UK and other international partners.
In a statement, an FCDO spokesperson strongly criticized recent actions by the Georgian authorities:
“The imprisonment of prominent opposition leaders is the latest attempt by the Georgian government to crack down on freedoms and stifle dissent.
The detention of election rivals is incompatible with any remaining Euro-Atlantic aspirations held by Georgian Dream as well as their own constitutional commitments.
The UK Government will not hesitate to consider further action should Georgia not return to respecting and upholding democracy, freedoms, and human rights.”
The British government has reiterated its call for Georgia to uphold democratic principles and warned that failure to reverse the current course could result in further diplomatic or political consequences.