Sittings · Document
2.7.2025 A10-0110/8
Amendment 8
Rasa Juknevičienė
on behalf of the PPE Group
Report A10-0110/2025
Rasa Juknevičienė
2023 and 2024 reports on Georgia
(2025/2024(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
I. whereas the illegitimate Georgian parliament has established the Temporary Parliamentary Investigative Commission on the Activities of the Regime and Political Figures of 2003-2012, which was the period when President Mikheil Saakashvili was at the helm and paving the way for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic ambitions; whereas this commission is a tool for the further persecution of political opponents, especially leaders of opposition movements; whereas on 22 May 2025, Zurab ‘Girchi’ Japaridze, the leader of the Girchi – More Freedom party and one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, was arrested for refusing to appear before this politically motivated commission created and controlled by Georgian Dream, whose long-term ambition is to eradicate political opposition in Georgia; whereas on 29 May 2025, Nika Melia, another leader of the Coalition for Change, was arrested one day before he was due to appear in court for refusing to appear before the Temporary Parliamentary Investigative Commission;
I. whereas the illegitimate Georgian parliament has established the Temporary Parliamentary Investigative Commission on the Activities of the Regime and Political Figures of 2003-2012, which was the period when President Mikheil Saakashvili was at the helm and paving the way for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic ambitions; whereas this commission is a tool for the further persecution of political opponents, especially leaders of opposition movements; whereas since the establishment of the so-called parliamentary commission the political situation in Georgia has further gravely deteriorated due to the arbitrary arrests, judicial persecution and sentencing of prominent opposition political leaders, including Zurab Japaridze, Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaridze, Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia and Nika Melia, on politically motivated charges;
Or. en
2.7.2025 A10-0110/9
Amendment 9
Rasa Juknevičienė
on behalf of the PPE Group
Report A10-0110/2025
Rasa Juknevičienė
2023 and 2024 reports on Georgia
(2025/2024(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
4. Stresses the need for an immediate and comprehensive audit of the EU’s policy towards Georgia given the ongoing democratic backsliding and the increasingly repressive political and legislative environment that constitutes a regression for many of Georgia’s democratic achievements and successful EU reforms, fundamentally weakens democratic institutions and further consolidates power in the hands of the ruling party; calls, in this regard, on the Commission to review the implementation of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement in the light of the blatant breach of Georgia’s obligations regarding the general principles laid down in Article 2, namely respect for democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms; reiterates that non-fulfilment of these obligations may result in the conditional suspension of economic cooperation and the privileges afforded by the Agreement;
4. Stresses the need for an immediate and comprehensive audit of the EU’s policy towards Georgia given the ongoing democratic backsliding and the increasingly repressive political and legislative environment that constitutes a regression for many of Georgia’s democratic achievements and successful EU reforms, fundamentally weakens democratic institutions and further consolidates power in the hands of the ruling party; calls, in this regard, on the Commission to review the implementation of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement in the light of the blatant breach of Georgia’s obligations regarding the general principles laid down in Article 2, namely respect for democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms; reiterates that non-fulfilment of these obligations may result in the conditional suspension of economic cooperation and the privileges afforded by the Agreement; calls, in the light of the blatant breach of the principles under Article 2, for the application of Articles 421 and 422 of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement related to dispute settlement and non-fulfilment of obligations;
Or. en
2.7.2025 A10-0110/10
Amendment 10
Rasa Juknevičienė
on behalf of the PPE Group
Report A10-0110/2025
Rasa Juknevičienė
2023 and 2024 reports on Georgia
(2025/2024(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
10. Condemns the unlawful prosecution of political opponents by the investigative committee of the de facto Georgian parliament under the leadership of the Georgian Dream party, which disproportionately targets the actions of the government that ended its mandate more than twelve years ago; highlights the political nature of the ‘investigation’, noting that the Georgian Dream party has been in power since 2012 but launched the investigative committee in parallel with its attempts to ban genuine opposition parties; notes with concern the statements by the chair of the investigative committee, Tea Tsulukiani, spreading Russian narratives; strongly condemns the arrest of Zurab ‘Girchi’ Japaridze and Nika Melia, and the threats to arrest other politicians, and considers these individuals to be political prisoners;
10. Condemns the unlawful prosecution of political opponents by the investigative committee of the de facto Georgian parliament under the leadership of the Georgian Dream party, which disproportionately targets the actions of the government that ended its mandate more than twelve years ago; highlights the political nature of the ‘investigation’, noting that the Georgian Dream party has been in power since 2012 but launched the investigative committee in parallel with its attempts to ban genuine opposition parties; notes with concern the statements by the chair of the investigative committee, Tea Tsulukiani, spreading Russian narratives; condemns in the strongest possible terms the arrest and sentencing of Zurab ‘Girchi’ Japaridze, Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaridze, Giorgi Vasadze, Nika Melia, Nika Gvaramia and other opposition politicians on politically motivated charges and considers these individuals to be political prisoners;
Or. en
2.7.2025 A10-0110/11
Amendment 11
Rasa Juknevičienė
on behalf of the PPE Group
Report A10-0110/2025
Rasa Juknevičienė
2023 and 2024 reports on Georgia
(2025/2024(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
14. Points out that the upcoming municipal elections in autumn 2025 present yet another test for the resilience of Georgia’s democracy and political pluralism; calls on the opposition to seize the opportunity presented by these elections to reflect the unity of the Georgian people in favour of democracy and the rule of law, as already demonstrated in the peaceful protests against the manipulation of the parliamentary elections and repression; calls for the municipal elections to be held in an improved electoral environment, overseen by an independent and impartial election administration and monitored through diligent international observation to guarantee a genuinely fair, free and transparent process;
14. Points out that the upcoming municipal elections in autumn 2025 will take place in a worsening legal environment following the adoption of new amendments to Georgia’s Organic Law and to the Election Code in December 2024 and under conditions of increasing political repression and persecution of political opponents by the Georgian regime; considers that, under the current political and legal conditions, the municipal elections present enormous challenges for any potential participant expecting a free and fair contest and that, further, such participation will be used by the self-appointed authorities as recognition of the new status quo; believes that these upcoming elections do not present an opportunity to reflect the democratic choice of the Georgian people unless the imprisoned and detained political opposition leaders are released and the elections are held in an improved electoral environment, overseen by an independent and impartial election administration and monitored through diligent international observation to guarantee a genuinely fair, free and transparent process;
Or. en
2.7.2025 A10-0110/12
Amendment 12
Rasa Juknevičienė
on behalf of the PPE Group
Report A10-0110/2025
Rasa Juknevičienė
2023 and 2024 reports on Georgia
(2025/2024(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
15. Is deeply concerned, in this context, by the further deterioration of the electoral system and the overall democratic environment ahead of the municipal elections, in particular the fast-tracked adoption of new amendments to Georgia’s Organic Law and to the Election Code in December 2024 that undermine the principle of equal suffrage and aim to solidify the ruling party’s dominance at all levels of governance; recalls that these amendments have been criticised by the Venice Commission and calls for them to be repealed; calls on the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Member States to consider imposing additional individual sanctions against Georgian officials if the upcoming municipal elections fail to meet the criteria for fair and free elections;
deleted
Or. en
2.7.2025 A10-0110/13
Amendment 13
Rasa Juknevičienė
on behalf of the PPE Group
Report A10-0110/2025
Rasa Juknevičienė
2023 and 2024 reports on Georgia
(2025/2024(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Motion for a resolution
Amendment
17. Condemns the recent adoption, without due public consultation, of legislation that enables further political persecution, limits the right of assembly, and further shrinks the space for civil society, independent media and the opposition to operate freely, including the Russian-style foreign agent law, the amendments to the Law on Public Service, the amendments to the Law on Grants, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, as well as new restrictive amendments to the Broadcasting Law; calls for the Georgian authorities to repeal these legislative changes; stresses that Georgian Dream’s political conduct, including its strategic alignment with the Russian Federation and the accelerated adoption of tools characteristic of authoritarian regimes, mirrors such developments within Russia itself;
17. Condemns the recent adoption, without due public consultation, of legislation that enables further political persecution, limits the right of assembly, and further shrinks the space for civil society, independent media and the opposition to operate freely, including the Russian-style foreign agent law, the amendments to the Law on Public Service, the amendments to the Law on Grants, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, as well as new restrictive amendments to the Broadcasting Law; calls for the Georgian authorities to repeal these legislative changes; stresses that Georgian Dream’s political conduct, including its strategic alignment with the Russian Federation and the accelerated adoption of tools characteristic of authoritarian regimes, mirrors such developments within Russia itself; expresses concern about the latest wave of assaults on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the demand by certain state institutions, such as the Anti-Corruption Bureau, for NGOs to provide detailed financial, legal and operational information for the last one and a half years within three working days; underscores that this demand is unfeasible by design and, as such, risks paralysing the work of the targeted organisations and suspending their activities;
Or. en