At today's plenary session, the European Parliament adopted a resolution titled "Attempts by the ruling Georgian Dream party to ban opposition parties in Georgia" by a vote of 445 in favor and 37 against, with 97 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) abstaining.

The draft resolution, published yesterday prior to the debate on the issue, states that the European Parliament strongly condemns attempts to ban Georgian opposition parties and demands the immediate withdrawal of the constitutional lawsuit filed against them.

Furthermore, 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.

In the resolution, the European Parliament:

“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.

Strongly condemns the attempt to outlaw Georgia’s opposition parties and demands the immediate withdrawal of the constitutional claim against them; stresses that a functioning political opposition is an indispensable pillar of democracy and that eliminating legitimate political opposition through judicial means is incompatible with democracy; notes that banning the sole opposition party represented in the Georgian Parliament dismantles the regime’s previous narrative of only targeting ‘boycotting’ parties;

Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Elene Khoshtaria, Mzia Amaglobeli, Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Baramidze and Nika Melia, and of all those detained for peaceful protest; calls for dropping politically motivated ‘sabotage’ charges;

Calls for the repeal of provisions enabling disproportionate restrictions on parties and individuals associated with prohibited parties; condemns the misuse of legislation and state institutions to silence political opponents; calls for an end to the obstruction of European political foundations;

Regrets the persistent lack of action by the EU and most Member States to ensure tangible consequences for the continuously deteriorating situation in Georgia; reiterates its call for targeted sanctions against and visa bans for those responsible for democratic backsliding, violent repression and political persecution, first and foremost Bidzina Ivanishvili, Irakli Kobakhidze, Shalva Papuashvili and Kakha Kaladze”.