The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has prepared a draft resolution titled “Uphold democracy and the rule of law in Georgia.” The authors of this draft are Edite Estrela of the Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group, and Sabina Cudic of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

The draft resolution reads that PACE “deeply regrets that the Georgian authorities have systematically ignored its concerns and recommendations about the democratic crisis in Georgia, which are shared by the international community at large.”

According to the draft, the rapid democratic backsliding has continued to such an extent that the very existence of democracy in Georgia is now being questioned.

The draft resolution deplores the increasingly isolationist policies and antagonistic relations of the Georgian authorities with European organisations and their member States. It also deplores the unfounded attacks and baseless, damaging accusations against members of the international community in Georgia, which have multiplied in recent months. The draft also condemns “the disproportionate and politically motivated imprisonment of the journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli and several opposition party leaders on trumped-up charges.”

“The Assembly reiterates its condemnation of the politically motivated prosecution of opposition members, journalists, and civil society representatives in Georgia. In this regard, it deplores the disproportionate and politically motivated imprisonment of the journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli and several opposition party leaders on trumped-up charges. Such prosecutions aim to silence dissenting voices and are incompatible with a democratic society,” the draft resolution reads.

Furthermore, the draft resolution reads about the October 4 municipal elections in Georgia.

“Regarding the upcoming local elections in Georgia, the Assembly deplores the fact that its call for an immediate, inclusive process to establish an electoral environment conducive to new, genuinely democratic elections was not implemented, as is evident from the decision by the majority of opposition parties not to participate in the upcoming local elections. The Assembly regrets that these elections will not be observed by civil society organisations with a well-respected track record in election observation, due to the crackdown on civil society. In this respect, it deeply regrets that the Georgian authorities did not invite the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe to observe the upcoming elections. The Assembly also regrets that the invitation to the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) to observe these elections was issued purposefully so late as to render their observation impossible,” the draft resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe reads.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe plans to debate Georgia at its session on October 2.