“We agree that there is democratic backsliding in Georgia, which is reflected in the EU Enlargement Report, and all our partners accentuate that,” said Giorgi Sharashidze, a member of the Gakharia for Georgia party.

According to Sharashidze, the government, which is the author of anti-democratic laws and anti-rhetoric statements, is responsible for democracy backsliding.

“Democratic backsliding is manifested in the autocracy of the ‘Dream’ regime, the adoption of anti-democratic laws, restrictions on demonstrations, etc. You said that Georgia-EU relations are at a stalemate. It is the Dream, which is responsible for that. What Brussels requires from Georgia is nothing but protecting fundamental human rights and the right to a free and fair court.

Georgia cannot be regarded as a democratic country in the absence of democracy and human rights. Therefore, the EU cannot establish relations with the autocratic regime. If the government wants to continue the European integration process, it should find strength within itself to ensure real democracy in the country,” he said.

For context: European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, expressed hope before the EU Foreign Council that “with the support of your people, the Georgian authorities will come back on the European path. Of course, it is in their hands.”