The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has adopted recommendations concerning Georgia. The relevant vote took place during the Congress session.

A total of 97 delegates voted in favor of the recommendations, 12 voted against, and 8 abstained.

Prior to the vote, a debate was held on the draft recommendations.

According to the report, 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 recommendations and the opinions of the Venice Commission to restore genuine local democracy in line with the Charter.”

At the same time, the Congress calls on the Georgian authorities to:

“Repeal problematic amendments to the Electoral Code and carry out a 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 changes that facilitate the banning of opposition parties; immediately reintroduce gender quotas and strengthen existing provisions to increase women’s participation in local politics; repeal amendments that restrict election observation; return to the practice of systematically inviting the Congress to observe local elections; and, as a necessary precondition, ensure genuine dialogue.”

The Congress also calls on 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 also recommends thoroughly investigating reports of violence, particularly against detainees and protesters, and calls for the release of detained journalists and political leaders.”