EU envoy appeals to Georgian voters: Democracy at stake in crucial election

EU Ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski, has made a blunt assessment regarding Georgia’s future in the European Union, stating that the country is unlikely to join the EU in the near future.

He emphasised that the European Union does not interfere in Georgia's elections but strongly encourages all citizens to participate in the democratic process.

Speaking to Georgian media, he urged Georgians to exercise their right to vote, highlighting the importance of voter engagement and awareness efforts led by civil society, Caliber.Az reports.

"The decision on which party to support rests solely with the Georgian people," said Herczynski. "It is your responsibility to determine the future of your country, your children, and yourselves. These elections will be crucial, so I urge you to vote because your voice matters."

Herczynski reiterated that the EU will respect the outcome of the elections, underscoring a key distinction between the European Union and the Soviet Union — respect for the will of the people. However, he also warned that Georgia’s path to EU membership would be blocked if the country drifts away from core European values like freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.

"If Georgia chooses to become a one-party state, silences the opposition, suppresses civil society, or restricts free media, it will not become a member of the EU — neither today, nor tomorrow, nor by 2030," Herczynski cautioned.

Earlier, it became known that the recent EU summit has effectively blocked Georgia's process for admission into the European Union, citing the country’s violations of European values.

“The European Council expresses serious concern regarding the actions of the Georgian government, which contradict the values and principles foundational to the European Union. This trajectory undermines Georgia's European aspirations and effectively stalls the EU admission process,” the statement declared.

The summit further expressed its “readiness to support the Georgian people on their European journey,” clearly distinguishing the populace from the government. Additionally, Brussels emphasized that it would “closely monitor” the upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia, insisting they must be “free and fair,” involve foreign observers, and be backed by “free, independent, and diverse media.”

To realign with the EU path, Brussels has called for Georgia to implement “democratic, comprehensive, and sustainable reforms in accordance with the principles of European integration.”

By Tamilla Hasanova