Within the framework of the 50th session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, a report on Georgia will be reviewed.

According to the session agenda, participants will hear a report by Stewart Dickson on the findings of the fact-finding mission carried out in Georgia on September 24-25, 2025.

Debates and voting will be held on amendments, as well as on the draft resolution and draft recommendation.

The report states that the Congress calls on the Georgian authorities to: “urgently resume political dialogue at all levels of government through an inclusive political process involving all stakeholders, in order to reduce polarization and restore the checks and balances necessary in a pluralistic democracy; implement the Congress’s recommendations and the opinions of the Venice Commission to restore genuine local democracy in line with the Charter.”

In addition, the Congress calls on the Georgian authorities to: “repeal problematic amendments to the Electoral Code and carry out comprehensive reform preceded by broad consultations, in order to ensure the independence of the Central Election Commission and address all major shortcomings; immediately halt the criminalization of opposition voices and repeal amendments that facilitate the banning of opposition parties; promptly reintroduce gender quotas and strengthen existing provisions to increase women’s participation in local politics; repeal changes restricting election observation, return to the practice of systematically inviting the Congress to observe local elections, as a necessary precondition for genuine dialogue.”

The Congress also urges the authorities to: “repeal all legislation that violates human rights and refrain from actions that would further hinder the work of civil society and the media or undermine the foundations of local democracy. The Congress further recommends thoroughly investigating reports of violence, particularly against detainees and protesters, and releasing detained journalists and political leaders.”