In a draft resolution, European Parliament calls on EU to impose sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, Irakli Kobakhidze, Shalva Papuashvili, and Kakha Kaladze

The European Parliament calls on the European Union and its member states to impose sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, Honorary Chairman of Georgian Dream; Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze; Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili; and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze. This is stated in the draft resolution on Georgia, which the European Parliament is set to vote on later. The European Parliament resolution concerns "attempts by the ruling 'Georgian Dream' party in Georgia to ban opposition parties," specifically:

“Whereas the situation in Georgia is progressively deteriorating, with further backsliding in democracy, media freedom, human rights and the rule of law due to the Georgian Dream authorities’ actions, which are increasingly incompatible with Georgia’s international obligations and commitments, including the Copenhagen criteria;

whereas in November 2025, the Georgian Dream-controlled parliament lodged a constitutional claim seeking to ban opposition parties, including the United National Movement, Coalition for Change and Strong Georgia – Lelo; whereas the Federalists were later added to the lawsuit and, in September 2026, For Georgia – the only opposition party still in parliament – was listed, eliminating legitimate political opposition;

whereas these proceedings are part of a broader pattern of strategy of the Georgian Dream aimed at turning Georgia into a one-party regime by eliminating political pluralism, following the model of Russia and Belarus that serves the Kremlin’s objective of keeping Georgia outside the European and Euro-Atlantic space;

whereas new judges were appointed to the Constitutional Court in September 2026, raising serious doubts about their independence in the proceedings;

whereas the Konrad Adenauer and the Friedrich Neumann Foundations were forced to close their Tbilisi offices in September 2026 after the authorities rejected their project funding applications under the Law on Grants;

whereas numerous journalists reporting on the government’s crackdown on opposition and civil society have been imprisoned".