The resolution adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) regarding Georgia states that the Assembly condemns the establishment of a parliamentary investigative commission to Study the Activities of the Regime and Political Officials in Power from 2003-2012.

Furthermore, the Assembly is concerned about “imposing criminal liability on persons for failing to appear before the investigative commission.”

“The Assembly deplores the decision of the ruling majority to set up a parliamentary inquiry commission, with far-reaching powers, into the “United National Movement (UNM) regime’s and its political representatives’ activities in 2003-2012”, later extended to include the period from 2013 to present. It is concerned that criminal charges have been brought against former UNM members, as well as other personalities, including from the opposition parties Lelo for Georgia, Girchi – More Freedom and Akhali, and personalities from civil society, who have declined to appear before this commission.

In this context, the Assembly is especially deeply concerned about the stated intention by the ruling party to ban the “collective UNM” and the introduction of legislation that prohibits any successor or related parties. The effective prohibition of democratic opposition in Georgia would be a gross violation of Georgia’s membership obligations under the statute of the Council of Europe. Even if not yet enacted, the threat of such action alone already deepens the political schism in the country and prevents the resolution of the ongoing crisis,” the resolution reads.