Peran Moon: Time is running out - we must target those responsible for the repression, which means freezing their assets, restricting access to Western education and institutions, and depriving them of the luxury of holidays abroad

We should freeze the assets of those responsible for the repression in Georgia, restrict their access to Western education and institutions, and deprive them of the luxury of holidays abroad, Perran Moon (UK, Labour Party) said at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

“I was going to speak specifically about the politically motivated arrests of Zurab Japaridze and Nika Melia, but while the world’s attention was focused on events in the Middle East, Georgia’s discredited government used the moment to escalate its crackdown on democracy in the country.

It is now abundantly clear that the arrests of Zurab Japaridze and Melia on minor procedural charges are part of a broader campaign of repression. In fact, six opposition leaders have been arrested in the past few weeks.

As Zurab Japaridze was being led away in handcuffs, he said: “In the end, we will win.” This is the spirit of a man who believes in freedom. Even when he was being silenced by force. This is the voice of a man who needs to be heard in this room and across Europe.

We must add Nika Gvaramia to the list of political prisoners, the third arrested opposition leader. Last Wednesday in London, I met Badri Japaridze, the leader of the opposition party Lelo, who explained to me the laws that have been passed, which aim to restrict media freedom, civil society and peaceful assembly. Japaridze told me that he was also returning to Tbilisi, where he was charged in what he believed was an unfair trial, from which he expected to be fined. Instead, on Monday of this week, Badri Japaridze, along with Lelo party co-leader Mamuka Khazaradze, was sentenced to eight months in prison and banned from holding public office for two years.

They are not just oppositionists, they are symbols of Georgia’s democratic aspirations and resistance to organized authoritarianism.

My friends, I must tell you that time is running out and we must act now. We are at the last possible moment for Georgia. If we are serious about supporting those who bravely resist political persecution in Georgia, we must target those responsible for this repression. Not just with words, but with actions. That means freezing their assets, restricting their access to Western education and institutions, and depriving them of the luxury of vacations and safe havens abroad while they destroy democracy at home,” Moon said.

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