PACE Monitoring Commission offers Assembly two options regarding ratification of Georgian delegation’ credentials

The PACE Monitoring Commission offers the Assembly two options regarding ratification of the Georgian delegation’ credentials. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Monitoring Commission has released the relevant draft document.

“Developments since the 26 October 2024 parliamentary elections, including violations of the freedom of assembly and expression and the crackdown on the opposition and civil society, are in contradiction to Georgia's membership obligations and accession commitments to the Council of Europe. The Assembly therefore needs clear assurances from the authorities that they are genuinely committed to reversing the democratic backsliding and fulfilling their membership obligations”, reads the document.

Subsequently, the Monitoring Commission offers the Assembly two options.

“Option A: The Assembly, pending a reconsideration of the Georgian delegation’s credentials and an overall re-assessment of the situation in the country at its April 2025 part-session, decides to ratify at this part-session the credentials of the Georgian delegation while, at the same time, insisting that the Georgian authorities:

immediately initiate an inclusive process involving all stakeholders and social actors, including the ruling majority, opposition and civil society, to urgently address the deficiencies and shortcomings noted during the recent parliamentary elections and to create an electoral environment that is conducive to genuinely democratic new elections announced during the coming months;

take immediate and effective steps to enable Georgia to resume the European integration process, in line with the European aspirations of the people, and to accelerate with determination the necessary reforms;

put an immediate end to police brutality and human rights abuses, effectively investigate these practices and end the misuse of legal proceedings as a means of deterring or retaliating against protesters, journalists and civic leaders, and fully respect the right to freedom of expression and assembly;

step up co-operation with the Council of Europe and engage in good faith in the process initiated by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe;

address, without delay, the concerns and recommendations of the Assembly expressed in Resolution 2438 (2022) and Resolution 2561 (2024), including the recommendation to revoke the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, and the concerns about the Law on Administrative Offences, which should be addressed by taking into account the urgent opinions of the Venice Commission;

release all political prisoners before the 2025 April part-session of the Assembly;

continue to engage fully with the Assembly’s monitoring procedure”, reads the document.

“The Assembly further resolves to explore ways of strengthening the participation of Georgian extraparliamentarian opposition and civil society in its actions with regard to Georgia, including within the framework of the Monitoring Committee.

The Assembly will have the opportunity to reconsider the credentials of the Georgian delegation, including the suspension of the above-mentioned rights, at its April 2025 part-session, in the light of progress achieved in relation to the issues mentioned in paragraph 11, under the conditions provided for in Rule 9 of its Rules of Procedure”.

In option B prepared by the Monitoring Commission, the requirements for Georgian officials remain the same, the only difference being that this option will not include ratification of the mandates of the Georgian delegation to PACE.