We condemn the increasing repression against the democratic opposition by the Georgian authorities and the excessive use of force against the peaceful demonstrators, four MEPs have issued a joint statement on this.

The authors of the statement are: David McAllister (Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament), Nils Ushakovs (Chairman of the European Parliament Delegation to the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee), Sergey Lagodinsky (Chairman of the Delegation of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly) and Rasa Yukneviciene (Permanent Rapporteur on Georgian Issues in the European Parliament).

"We condemn the increasing repression against the democratic opposition and the excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators by the Georgian authorities. Arresting opponents and raiding offices are part of the toolkit of authoritarian regimes and have no place in a country seeking EU membership. "Georgian Dream" is directly responsible for the continuous decline of democracy and the country's sharp deviation from the European path against the will of the absolute majority of the people. Protests taking place throughout the country are a legitimate expression of concern about the future of Georgia under the current leadership," the MEPs said.

The European parliamentarians call on the European Union and the member states to impose sanctions against all the political leaders of "Georgian Dream" who are responsible for election violations and repressions against the citizens of Georgia who took part in street protests.

"Furthermore, we once again emphasize our request to impose targeted sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili, who bears the main political responsibility for the wave of repressions and the halting of the European integration process. Georgia needs a re-run of the rigged elections, which should be held in an improved election environment, by an independent and impartial election administration, under international supervision, to ensure a truly fair and transparent process. We fully support President Salome Zurabishvili, who remains a firm defender of democracy and Georgia's European integration. "The European Parliament supports the brave Georgian people and their choice for a European future," the statement said.