“The draft report developed by the Monitoring Committee reflects absolute lies and unreality regarding elections and subsequent developments,” stated Givi Mikanadze, a member of the Georgian Dream party.

Mikanadze asserted that politically biased factions are attempting to undermine the core values that the Parliamentary Assembly has historically upheld.

“Once again, the deliberate policy of specific forces is evident, as they claim that the elections held in Georgia and their results are unacceptable because they did not achieve their desired outcome.

In reality, the vast majority of Georgia’s population supported the ruling team. Based on this reality, they developed a draft document that embodies complete absurdity, primarily reflecting a blatant disrespect for our citizens and voters. They asserted that a specific date for the next elections should be determined by April.

At every meeting, every committee hearing, and plenary session, we have clearly stated our position: there will be no parliamentary elections in Georgia until 2028. They also included a statement regarding the release of so-called political prisoners before the April session, which is equally absurd. There are ongoing criminal investigations against 27 individuals related to specific acts, and any person, whether inside or outside the country, is obligated to respect the rule of law and the activities of law enforcement agencies. Therefore, there are no political prisoners in Georgia, and this claim further highlights the absurdity of their document.

In contrast, with the support of foreign MPs, our delegation presented three amendments to the document yesterday. We justly demand recognition of the Georgian parliamentary delegation’s credentials without reservation. We also support the document in three areas related to ongoing reforms for European integration, the agreement reached with the Prime Minister during the December visit of the Council of Europe Secretary General regarding the creation of working groups on specific legislation, and our commitment to continue active cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly’s Monitoring Committee.

Consequently, we will raise these issues during the committee hearing and the parliamentary session today. We have had negotiations with delegations from several countries and political groups, so we anticipate support in these processes.

However, we observe that opposition representatives and their associated NGOs, who are numerous in Strasbourg these days, are attempting to damage the image of our country and society. They have failed to present any substantive evidence regarding perceived flaws in the elections. Many of our colleagues from different countries have indicated that while they listened, they could find nothing tangible. This punitive approach is primarily directed against our society because these factions refuse to acknowledge the decisions made through free expression.

If this double standard persists, the values of the Council of Europe, which emphasize justice, non-interference in internal affairs, and respect for sovereignty, will inevitably be undermined. The past three days have clearly illustrated that politically biased groups are trying to undermine the foundational values of the Parliamentary Assembly to achieve their own objectives and judgments against our country,” Mikanadze stated.

When asked, “If the session results in a decision contrary to your position on elections, how do you foresee returning to the April session?” Mikanadze replied:

“We must first await the committee’s review and the decision made by the Parliamentary Assembly. Based on that decision, we will consult with Tbilisi and determine how and in what format our cooperation with the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly will proceed. It is clear that no resolution or double standard can deter us from fulfilling our responsibility to our country and society. We categorically declare that there will be no parliamentary elections until 2028, and regarding ongoing investigations, all parties should respect the work of investigative agencies and the timelines established by law. Let us allow the processes related to these investigations to unfold without making premature, targeted statements.”

The PACE Monitoring Committee published its draft report regarding Georgia on January 28 to be voted on January 29.