Georgia under fire: EP rejects election results, calls for sanctions and visa restrictions

The European Parliament has passed a critical resolution regarding the situation in Georgia, specifically addressing the legitimacy of the parliamentary elections held on October 26. 

By a majority vote, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) approved a document that does not recognize the legitimacy of the elections, Caliber.Az reports.

The resolution calls for an independent, international, and transparent investigation into allegations of election result manipulation. A total of 444 MEPs voted in favour, 72 voted against, and 82 abstained.

The European Parliament emphasized that "reports of large-scale electoral fraud undermine the integrity of the electoral process, the legitimacy of the results, the credibility of any new government, and do not serve as a reliable reflection of the will of the Georgian people."

The document further noted that Georgia, as an EU candidate country, held elections that "did not meet international standards for democratic elections and its commitments as an OSCE participating State to hold free and fair elections." The irregularities observed during the voting were described as "incompatible with the standards expected of an EU candidate country." The resolution also highlighted that the conduct of the elections reflected "the ongoing democratic stagnation for which the ruling party is fully responsible."

In addition, the European Parliament called on the EU to impose sanctions on several key figures within the ruling Georgian Dream party. These individuals include honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, Georgian Dream Party Chairman Irakli Garibashvili, and party Secretary General Kakha Kaladze. The European Parliament holds them responsible for actions deemed anti-democratic.

The resolution also urged the European Commission and the European Council to reconsider the visa-free travel arrangement for Georgian citizens if the country fails to meet EU standards on democratic governance and freedoms.

Georgia's parliamentary elections, held on October 26, resulted in a victory for the ruling Georgian Dream party. However, the opposition and Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili rejected the results, citing allegations of electoral fraud.

On November 28, the Georgian Parliament approved the newly appointed Cabinet of Ministers, led by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, and endorsed its program for the upcoming four-year term. In a vote of confidence, 84 MPs supported the new government, with no opposition votes. The session was attended solely by members of the ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia party, as opposition parties continue to reject the election results and have boycotted the proceedings.

Prime Minister Kobakhidze introduced three new candidates for key ministerial positions. Maka Bochorishvili was appointed as the new Foreign Minister, succeeding Ilia Darchiashvili. Bochorishvili, previously the chair of the Parliamentary Committee on European Integration, will take over at a critical time in Georgia's foreign policy. 

Anri Okhanashvili, former chair of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, was named Minister of Justice. David Songulashvili, who previously led the Economic Committee, was appointed to head the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.

By Tamilla Hasanova