Tbilisi boycotts Euronest Assembly, citing bias, “anti-democratic” behavior

Georgia has officially declined to participate in the 12th plenary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, scheduled to take place in Yerevan on October 28-30.

Levan Makhashvili, Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, issued an open letter to the Euronest leadership outlining the reasons behind the decision, Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media.

“We are increasingly concerned by the conduct of certain Members of the European Parliament involved in the work of the Euronest PA, as well as the European Parliament as a whole, whose hostile rhetoric and actions towards Georgia contradict the principles of partnership and mutual respect that this platform is meant to uphold. Intentionally distorted and false political statements have increasingly become a common characteristic of MEPs who prefer their political affiliates in Georgia, charged in criminal offences, over facts and evidence, and more importantly, over the will of the Georgian people,” the letter by Makhashvili notes.

In the letter, Makhashvili condemned the conduct of certain Members of the European Parliament.

“Certain Members of the European Parliament, who represent EP in Euronest PA, have made statements and social media posts encouraging public unrest, radicalisation and violence in our country, whereas the EP and Euronest PA’s resolutions and reports on Georgia continue to disregard the democratic will of the Georgian people.”

The Georgian lawmaker also voiced concern over the decision to invite certain individuals to the plenary session “under the guise of civil society,” despite their alleged support for “declaring the elections illegitimate, undermining democratic institutions, and participating in a recent attempt to overthrow the government in Georgia.”

“By granting these individuals a platform, the Euronest normalises and even encourages anti-democratic behaviour and facilitates the whitewashing of violent or radical political agendas. Such an outcome is entirely at odds with the core values of democracy, the rule of law, dialogue, and peace that this institution is meant to safeguard,” Makhashvili stated.

By Vafa Guliyeva