Georgia's PACE participation on hold until injustice ceases, says Prime Minister

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has stated that Georgia will resume its work in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) only if the perceived injustice against the country ceases.

Kobakhidze emphasized that Georgia's participation in the assembly is currently on hold due to what he described as unfair treatment and issues within European bureaucracy, Caliber.Az reports via Georgian media.

“If the injustice, the wrong approach, and the problems we face in European institutions stop, we will naturally resume our work in PACE,” Kobakhidze said.

However, he added that at present, Georgia does not see the point in re-engaging with the assembly under the current circumstances.

Previously, Kobakhidze had criticized the conditions set by the assembly, calling them “absurd.” He pointed to the approval of a resolution with over 140 votes that he felt was unjust, further stating that under such conditions, continuing Georgia's work in PACE had lost its significance. Consequently, the Georgian government decided to halt its participation in the assembly as a response to what it viewed as an untenable situation.

Despite this suspension, Georgia has not indicated any intention to withdraw from the Council of Europe, and it remains a member of the PACE. The country’s future participation will depend on the resolution of the issues that Kobakhidze outlined.

Kobakhidze said non-participation of the Georgian delegation in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe would “not be a special loss” for the country, after the delegation on January 29 suspended its involvement in the body over a PACE resolution that called on Georgian authorities to hold snap parliamentary elections in the coming months.

In his remarks, Kobakhidze noted the country remained a member of the CoE and would continue cooperation “in various formats”.