Mikheil Sarjveladze, chair of the parliamentary Human Rights Committee, echoed the Freedom House annual report, which assesses the state of democracy in 29 countries.

According to MP, the report highlights the correlation between the deterioration of democracy quality in the transition countries and Russia’s aggressive efforts, leading to destabilization and anti-democratic processes in the region.

“The report focuses on Russian military aggression threats in the region, taking place since the 2008 invasion of Georgia to the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine. The report underscores the correlation between the deterioration of democracy quality in the transition countries and Russia’s aggressive efforts to influence neighbouring countries, leading to destabilization and anti-democratic processes in regional transition countries. Georgia has been highlighting these threats on many international and local platforms for a long while. Having the international community focus on it now is a good thing,” Mikheil Sarjveladze said.

MP praised the report’s recommendations on speeding up Georgia’s European integration process.

“Given the mentioned threats, it implies more responsibility and support from firm democracies,” he added.

The chair of the Human Rights Committee also criticized the ranking of countries in the Freedom House ratings, dubbing it “humiliating for any Georgian”.

“Freedom House puts the occupation regime of Abkhazia next to Hungary, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, and Georgia in its ranking category of partially free democracies. It is insulting and humiliating for any Georgian. This despotic regime has killed thousands of innocent civilians and expelled hundreds of thousands of our compatriots from their native lands. It grossly violates human rights and freedoms daily,” he added.