Alain Berset: Georgia’s absence from PACE not improved situation, question is how we can have impact, isolation is not solution

Georgia’s absence from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has not improved the situation. The question is how we can address this to have the maximal possible impact. As you know, isolation is not the solution, said the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset.

During the debate, Estonian MP Eerik-Lynne Kross questioned Berset on Georgia’s prolonged non-participation, noting that the country has not attended PACE sessions for two years and, in his view, continues to fall short of several requirements set by the Council of Europe, the Venice Commission, and the European Court of Human Rights. He cited concerns over a series of laws, including the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, the Law on Registration of Foreign Agents, the Law on the Protection of Family Values and Minors, and provisions of the Code of Administrative Offences. Kross also recalled repeated calls for the activation of Article 52 of the European Convention on Human Rights regarding Georgia, asking what further steps are required to trigger its use.

“I take the Assembly’s work on Georgia very seriously. Including previous resolutions and the report discussed this week. We see the same reality. The democratic backsliding in Georgia is deeply worrying and must be addressed clearly. The shrinking of civic space, pressure on opposition parties, detentions, the restrictive regulations you mentioned, and the lack of accountability for police brutality are fully unacceptable.

I met with representatives of Georgian civil society yesterday, and their concerns confirm the seriousness of the situation. You mentioned Article 52, and it is one of the Secretary-General’s tools, but the question I need to answer and ask is: what will have the greatest impact? The question is not a question of a good conscience—it would be easy for me to use some tools without looking at the possible impacts. We need to make this balance. We have to be sure that the goal is to have movement. Not just to say we did the right thing -to do the right thing and to have the right consequences. We are still assessing this. What we can see at that moment is that Georgia’s absence from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has not improved the situation. The question is how we can address this to have the maximal possible impact. As you know, isolation is not the solution.

I remain engaged at all levels. Dialogue for me cannot be an end in itself. The question is when and how we reach impact. Impact is an important element in the discussion and must lead to tangible progress. This is the only way to make progress.

I made this very clear to Prime Minister Kobakhidze in Yerevan on 4 May. I also asked my Secretariat to work on concrete ways regarding the situation you mentioned,” said Alain Berset.