MEP Sabina Čudić: Georgia is experiencing a severe democratic setback

Georgia is experiencing a severe democratic setback, said Sabina Čudić, Member of the European Parliament (from Bosnia and Herzegovina), during a debate on the situation in Georgia at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

“When we consider the situation in a member state, we analyze it in accordance with democratic standards and the foundations of democracy. Let us recall that these foundations are: 1. The rule of law, ensuring equality and justice, in particular based on the separation of powers. 2. Free and fair elections. 3. Protection of human rights, ensuring individual freedoms.

If we analyze the current situation in Georgia, in particular the situation since the resolution adopted in January until today, we must state that the situation with regard to all these foundations of democracy is deteriorating. The country is experiencing a serious democratic setback,” Sabina Čudić said.

According to her, the current situation affects all citizens of Georgia.

“We need not remind you that a strong civil society is one of the key elements of a healthy democracy. In the current situation, the space for civil society in Georgia is shrinking. The parliament did not recall the law “On Transparency of Foreign Influence”, which was the subject of much discussion here, and replaced it with the Georgian version of FARA, which declares non-compliance with the registration of foreign agents as unlawful. The Monitoring Committee has asked the Venice Commission to prepare an urgent opinion on this law and we call on the authorities to fully satisfy any recommendations. Also, another important element is the media. Unfortunately, the media environment in Georgia is deteriorating,” Chudich noted.

The MP noted that another worrying issue in Georgia is “the actions taken by the authorities to ban the full spectrum of democratic opposition in the country.”

“In addition to the fact that banning the opposition completely violates the country’s commitment to the Council of Europe Statute, it, along with limiting the space for civil society and independent media, means establishing an autocracy in Georgia. How we treat the opposition, how we treat the media and civil society, is the main criterion by which we assess the country’s progress or, in this case, serious setback. We call on the authorities to restore dialogue and cooperation with the Assembly and the Council of Europe. We are ready for cooperation. This is not a report we want to keep presenting. The report we want to present is a report on progress, on relations with the Council of Europe, and a report where we will see our colleagues from the leading parties and opposition parties here in this hall to discuss this,” said Sabina Čudić.