Brussels, 31/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 31 July, the spokespersons for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle took note “with concern” that the Georgian public prosecutor had filed criminal charges against Georgia's former president, Mikheil Saakashvili, on 28 July. “While none is above the law, prosecutions in Georgia should be transparent, proportionate, free of political motivation, and adhering strictly to due process”, the spokespersons for Ashton and Füle stated. Saakashvili, who is exiled in the USA, and several high level officials from his administration have been accused of “abuse of power” in the crackdown on the anti-government demonstrations in November 2007.
Ashton and Füle's spokesperons stated that the EU would closely monitor these and other legal proceedings against members of the former government and current opposition in Georgia (see EUROPE 11115). The EU has on numerous occasions called for the non-politicisation of justice in Georgia.
The EU also urged all sides in Georgian politics “to move beyond past conflicts and to focus on the country's future”. “Georgia faces great challenges and these require forward-looking leadership ready to break the mould of polarised politics”, Ashton and Füle's spokesperons stated.
They recalled that the association agreement, signed between the EU and Georgia on 27 June and ratified by the Georgian Parliament in mid-July, commits Georgia to adhering to common values “including respect for the principles of the rule of law and good governance”. (CG)