An extraordinary meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights was held in the European Parliament.

Along with the MEPs, Georgian civil activists, Lasha Bughadze, Beka Korshia and Keti Kerashvili addressed the meeting.

According to Lasha Bughadze, “Georgia will never be part of the Russian world because Putin’s Russian world has no future. And in this fight, we must all stand united.”

“Europe, show your strength, defend your ideals. Putin must be defeated and all his satellites in my country must be punished. Those who are driving Georgia away from Europe and rob us of our independence for pro-Russian autocratic oligarch Ivanishvili to stay in power.

They are against Europe every day. Through propaganda, they portray the West as the enemy while personally enjoying every Western privilege – from travel and entertainment to education and life abroad for their families. This hypocrisy must end.

We are fighting, but as always, we need Europe’s support behind us. Because historically, we are Europe and we will be Europe. Georgia will never be part of the Russian world because Putin’s Russian world has no future. And in this fight, we must all stand united. Terror and war must not become permanent realities in Europe,” Lasha Bughadze has said.

Beka Korshia stated that Georgia has turned into a prison.

“Georgia has become a prison, a very beautiful one, with mountains, wine, polyphonic singing, great literature, but a prison all the same. Only a few privileged families live in comfort. The rest- journalists, workers, actors, opposition figures live in fear every day. Now, I’m not talking here as a victim. I’m talking here because I still believe words matter and I still believe Europe, the real Europe listens when truth speaks even with an accent.

So I’ve just one request. Don’t turn away. Hold the line. Don’t let strategic patience become moral silence. This is not the time for more statements. This is the time to act. Keep the door open for the Georgian people because we are still pushing, still knocking even as our so-called government tries to look as in.

In the end, I want to say something for the Georgian people from the European Parliament: Believe, Georgia! Believe in your strength, your freedom, and your rightful place in Europe because the world is watching and your future is worth every sacrifice,” Beka Korshia stated.

Korshia also spoke about the jailed founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti media outlets, Mzia Amaglobeli.

“Today, I must say the name of one special woman loudly, just as loudly as her dedication and work have always been. That woman is my colleague, Mzia Amaglobeli, who is now a political prisoner facing absurd charges. Mzia is the face of Georgian women and of Georgia itself with her unbreakable character and strength. And today, as a journalist, I must say loudly and clearly, once again, freedom for Mzia Amaglobeli,” Korshia stressed.

Addressing the European Parliament, Ketevan Kurashvili emphasised that losing Georgia to authoritarianism and Russian influence means losing a vital part of Europe’s future.

“We need your support. We need you to act because the stakes are not only in Georgia; they’re also in Europe. If we lose Georgia to authoritarianism and Russian influence, we lose a vital part of Europe’s future.

But we will not surrender, with great refusal to fear we will fight until the last drop of strength. We will speak, sing, protest, vote, and stand up until the struggle is won. I can tell you many stories of brave Georgians, but today in the XXI century, it is this new generation who is writing the next chapter of our story. They are fearless, they’re hopeful. They are ready. We are ready,” Ketevan Kerashvili said.

According to Kurashvili, there are “ 65 political prisoners behind bars in Georgia, including three women.” She further stated that “victims of physical violence during detention included women, minors, people with disabilities, and journalists. Among them, is one of the fiercest defenders of our freedom, Mzia Amaglobeli.”