MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2024/2822(RSP))
On the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia
B-10-2024-0071
on behalf of the ECR Group · Rapporteur: Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Adam Bielan, Mariusz Kamiński, Rihards Kols, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Jaak Madison, Carlo Fidanza, Michał Dworczyk, Alberico Gambino, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Ivaylo Valchev, Veronika Vrecionová, Ondřej Krutílek, Assita Kanko, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Alexandr Vondra
✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026
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This resolution condemns Georgia's democratic backsliding, especially the foreign agents law, and calls for free elections, sanctions on officials, and support for civil society.¶¶¶
Key points
- Condemns the adoption of the foreign agents law and considers it a tool for interfering in the parliamentary election.¶
- Calls on Georgian authorities to ensure the 26 October 2024 election is democratic, fair and free, and to cooperate with international and local observers.¶¶
- Alarmed by limited polling stations abroad, depriving many Georgians abroad of the right to vote.¶
- Condemns physical attacks on politicians and campaigners and calls for bringing perpetrators to justice.¶¶
- Calls on the Commission to expand support for civil society in Georgia, especially given pressure from the foreign agents law.¶
- Concerned about government persecution of civil society, including use of the Anti-Corruption Bureau against Transparency International Georgia and Choose Europe.¶
- Urges Georgia to impose sanctions on Russia and enforce measures to avoid circumvention of EU sanctions.¶
- Calls on the EU to impose travel bans on those involved in the foreign agents law and other high-ranking ruling party members and judges.¶
- Condemns Bidzina Ivanishvili's role and calls for immediate targeted personal sanctions on him.¶¶
- Underlines that suspending visa liberalisation should be considered only after personal sanctions on ruling party members and Ivanishvili.¶
- Demands immediate and unconditional release of former President Mikheil Saakashvili and calls for allowing MEP visits.¶¶
- Notes draconian restrictions on access to public information, including closure of Soviet-era archives.¶
Who is affected
- Georgian authorities and electoral bodies: must ensure democratic elections and cooperate with observers.¶¶
- Georgian civil society organisations: face pressure and persecution; need EU support.¶¶
- Bidzina Ivanishvili and ruling party officials: targeted for personal sanctions.¶¶
- Former President Mikheil Saakashvili: demands for release and safety.¶
- Georgians living abroad: affected by limited polling stations.¶