The Chair of the Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee, Nikoloz Samkharadze, said to journalists that the authors of the Council of Europe resolution, as well as those who will vote for this document, have no desire to cooperate or engage in dialogue with the Georgian authorities.

According to him, the resolution also clearly shows that their visit to Georgia was of no value.

Samkharadze also notes that there is “no justification” for their demand that Georgia return to PACE.

“The initial version of the resolution we saw is practically no different from previous versions. It does not reflect at all the developments that have taken place in Georgia over the past 12 months. Therefore, it is clear that the authors of this resolution, as well as those who will vote for it, have no desire to cooperate or engage in dialogue with the Georgian authorities. It also became clear that their visit here was pointless and was simply made so they could write in their report that they had been to Georgia.

This resolution completely invalidates the statements we are usually addressed with in various parliamentary forums by PACE representatives, that they want the Georgian delegation to return to work in PACE. The draft resolution states that PACE confirms the January 2025 resolution, and that January 2025 resolution is precisely the reason why we suspended our work in PACE. Therefore, their demand that Georgia return to PACE no longer makes any sense or justification. More than a year and a half has passed since January 2025, and they are still reaffirming the same resolution. Therefore, we will make our decision based on our and the country’s interests, and of course that decision will be that we will not return to PACE until our delegation’s mandates are fully and unconditionally recognized by PACE,” Samkharadze said.

For context, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is holding debates on Georgia today and will vote on a resolution. The report titled “The functioning of democratic institutions in Georgia” is presented by rapporteurs Edita Estrela (Portugal, SOC) and Sabina Ćudić (Bosnia and Herzegovina, ALDE). The draft resolution states that democratic backsliding in Georgia continues uninterrupted, as does pressure against civil society, political opposition, and dissenting voices. According to the document, none of the Assembly’s urgent recommendations have been implemented.