The European Parliament has adopted a report on Georgia by 436 votes to 145.

According to the document, the European Parliament expresses its full solidarity with the Georgian people, who continue to fight for a European and democratic Georgia.

“The European Parliament Expresses its full solidarity with the Georgian people, who continue their struggle for a European and democratic Georgia in the face of democratic backsliding, growing repression, unlawful arrests, relentless hostile rhetoric, disinformation and threats; stresses that nearly 75 % of Georgian people continue to support further integration with the EU; reiterates that the EU’s door remains wide open for the Georgian people to return to the European path;

The European Parliament notes with deep disappointment that Georgian Dream has not only suspended but effectively reversed Georgia’s course of European integration; regrets the fact that there has been backsliding in the implementation of all nine priorities that were the conditions for granting Georgia candidate status; highlights the inconsistency of the claims by Georgian Dream that EU integration remains the main priority, while at the same time its highest officials and government-affiliated media run an orchestrated and systematic campaign spreading manipulative Russian-style narratives, disinformation and conspiracy theories against the EU, its officials and diplomats;

The European Parliament deplores the fact that, since the rigged October 2024 parliamentary elections, Georgian Dream has further intensified its trajectory towards full authoritarianism; is dismayed at the rapid dismantling of Georgia’s democratic foundations through targeted attacks against its democratic institutions, fundamental freedoms and democratic pluralism, which is totally at odds with the democratic development required for EU membership; shares the Commission’s assessment that crucial institutions, such as the Central Election Commission, the Communications Commission, the High Council of Justice, the Constitutional Court, the Prosecutor’s Office, the National Bank, and law enforcement and security agencies, lack impartiality, independence and democratic oversight; stresses that Georgia cannot make any progress in the European accession process as long as it does not return to the path of democratic reforms and, inter alia, guarantee free, fair and competitive elections, protect the independence of official institutions, effectively address oligarchic control and improve the protection of human rights and media freedom;

The European Parliament stresses that targeted personal sanctions imposed by the EU and its Member States against Bidzina Ivanishvili, key Georgian Dream leaders, judges, prosecutors and other officials responsible for the continuous democratic backsliding in Georgia, electoral fraud, serious human rights violations and the persecution of political opponents and activists, and against complicit owners of companies and media outlets linked to Georgian Dream, would be an important instrument against impunity; welcomes the fact that, in the absence of unanimity at EU level, an increasing number of Member States have introduced individual visa bans and other sanctions against Georgian officials; urges other Member States to follow suit;

The European Parliament reiterates its strong call for the EU and its Member States to introduce immediate and targeted personal sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili, his family members and his companies and calls for the EU to freeze his assets and to cooperate on this matter with other jurisdictions, in particular the United Kingdom and the United States”, reads the report.