This statement confirmed that there is no resource to reset relations with the current illegitimate regime if it continues its anti-European and anti-democratic policy, said Salome Samadashvili, one of the leaders of Lelo-Strong Georgia, when speaking about the joint statement of the High Representative of the European Union, Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas and the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos.

According to Samadashvili, Georgia’s return to the European agenda will begin with new democratic parliamentary elections.

“I think this statement is very important because this statement confirmed word for word the position that Lelo had when we said that there was no even theoretical possibility that Georgian Dream would gain any type of international legitimacy through local elections. This statement confirmed that there are no resources to reset relations with the current illegitimate regime if it continues its anti-European and anti-democratic policies. Therefore, we say that the only point from which a real reset of our relations with the European Union and the return of Georgia to the European agenda can begin will be new democratic parliamentary elections,” Samadashvili said.

The High Representative of the European Union, Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, and the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, issued a joint statement regarding the local elections held in Georgia.

The statement states that the local elections in Georgia were “held amid a period of extensive crackdown on dissent.”

“This Saturday in Georgia was the day of local elections, amid a period of extensive crackdown on dissent.

Months of raids on independent media, the passing of laws targeting civil society, the jailing of opponents and activists or amendments to the electoral code favouring the ruling party, drastically reduced the possibility of having competitive elections. A large part of the opposition boycotted these elections, and the turnout was relatively low.

In addition, the refusal by the Georgian authorities to invite international monitors in due time, in particular OSCE/ODIHR, undermined the transparency of the electoral process and prevented credible international monitoring. Domestic organisations also refrained from observing due to the repressive environment.

Large numbers of people constantly protested the repressive policies of the governing party, Georgian Dream. We call for the release of all those arbitrarily detained.

We urge calm and restraint in the post-election period and call on the authorities to uphold citizens’ rights to freedom of assembly and expression. A constructive and inclusive dialogue involving all political actors and civil society is essential, and we call on every side to refrain from violence.

Finally, the European Union firmly rejects and condemns the disinformation regarding the EU’s role in Georgia and denounces the personal attacks against the Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia”, reads the statement.