Speaker: Georgia not to participate in Euronest sessions

“It is categorically unacceptable when Euronest ignores the will of the Georgian population and, at its own discretion, cancels the elections and democratic institutions of its member state,” reads the statement of Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.

According to the Speaker’s statement, taking into account the European Parliament’s “narrow-party attitude,” Georgia’s parliamentary permanent delegation will not participate in the next sessions of Euronest.

“Some MEPs, who are known for their hostile, unfair and politically-biased stance toward Georgia, added such a passage in the resolution text, which is categorically unacceptable and outrageous for Georgian society, including mentioning of the 2024 parliamentary elections as ‘rigged’, while the elected by people government as ‘self-proclaimed.’ In addition, individuals who attack police officers and state institutions are regarded as ‘political prisoners,’ which undermines the standards of supremacy of law.

It is obvious that the European Parliament turned the Euronest platform into a tool to blackmail neighboring countries and for its narrow-party agenda. It is categorically unacceptable when Euronest ignores the will of the Georgian population and, at its own discretion, cancels the elections and democratic institutions of its member state.

Therefore, taking into account the hostile and narrow-party attitude of the European Parliament’s such forces, Georgia’s parliamentary permanent delegation will not participate in the next sessions of Euronest,” reads the statement.

The Euronest Parliamentary Assembly on October 31 issued a Resolution on the future of the Eastern Partnership and the new prospects of the EU enlargement policy, which also draws attention to Georgia. It highlights recent developments in the country, indicating democratic backsliding.

“Recent developments in Georgia have demonstrated a serious democratic backsliding, including the rigged parliamentary elections of October 26, 2024, the government’s announcement on November 28, 2024, to delay EU accession talks until 2028, and the subsequent implementation of a series of anti-democratic legislative acts aimed at silencing all possible dissidents’ voices, particularly from civil society, academia, and independent media and independent media, attacking minorities, in particular the LGBTI+ community, and eliminating viable democratic political opposition,” reads the resolution.