“The Council of Europe Ministerial format offers Georgia the finest opportunity to raise, together with participating countries, the issues that concern Georgia and that hold importance on Georgia’s foreign policy agenda,” declared Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maka Botchorishvili, speaking in Moldova.

“First and foremost, the security challenges facing our country are of the utmost importance, and our fellow ministers must be properly informed about the developments unfolding in relation to Georgia, including the processes taking place in Georgia’s occupied regions. It is, of course, impossible not to respond to the attitude that CoE member states hold towards Georgia. When discussing democracy, we cannot ignore the double standards being applied to Georgia.

It was genuinely troubling to witness that three Georgian television channels were denied accreditation, prevented from fulfilling their professional duties, and unable to cover the Ministerial event. This is a truly noteworthy fact and one that merits the attention of the organisation’s members, for how can double standards have any place when the very same people speak of media freedom and freedom of expression? Accordingly, this fact could not pass unmentioned in my address.

Furthermore, when speaking of support for the people, it is important to note that a government elected by the people represents, above all, the legitimate interests of any society and of any country. It is impossible not to draw attention to this as well, given the attitude that certain member states of the Council of Europe hold towards the Georgian government.

Elections, moreover, are what primarily determine the formation of a democratic society. When we speak of democracy, it is impossible, on the one hand, to speak of democratic backsliding whilst, on the other, the very same countries and the very same individuals encourage radical forces within the country, which do not participate in elections, do not recognise electoral results, and are, in general, opposed to the principles of democracy. Such double standards and such an attitude must therefore always be kept under scrutiny. Of course, this may not be pleasant for everyone to hear, but this is not a gathering at which only agreeable matters are to be discussed. It is important that attention be drawn to every critical issue,” declared Maka Botchorishvili.