In a speech to the European Parliament on Wednesday 18 December, Georgia’s pro-Western President Salomé Zourabichvili criticised Europe’s slow response and called on it to do more to tackle the political crisis in her country.
Georgia, a former Soviet republic, has been in crisis since the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in the parliamentary elections of 26 October. The government, accused of pro-Russian authoritarian excesses, decided at the end of November to suspend all EU membership negotiations until 2028.
“Europe has been slow to wake up and slow to react”, said Salomé Zourabichvili, who had announced that she would refuse to hand in her mandate as planned on 29 December until new legislative elections were organised. “While European flags are being banned in Tbilisi, Georgians are still waiting for biting measures to come from Brussels and Washington. And I hope we won’t have to wait for a deeper crisis to occur for Europe to act”, she added.
Waiting for sanctions. “Europe has so far met the challenge halfway”, analysed Salomé Zourabichvili. For her, the last ‘Foreign Affairs’ Council was a first step, but that the EU should do more. “I won’t get into specifics because that’s your free decisions”, in reference to the deadlock over the adoption of European sanctions.
Since 15 December, Estonia has sanctioned the Georgian Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, and 13 other Georgian officials because of the violence perpetrated by the Georgian authorities against demonstrators, journalists and the opposition. Lithuania did the same. However, several EU countries (Hungary and Slovakia) are opposed to such sanctions at European level.
In a debate on Tuesday 17 December, MEPs called for EU sanctions against leading Georgian figures following the crackdown on pro-EU demonstrations (see EUROPE 13547/23).
Salomé Zourabichvili pointed out that Europe was “the preferred destination for Georgia’s corrupt elite and leadership; they import post-Soviet Russia governance in Georgia, but are happy to save and spend their money in Europe, and they want the Russian corrupt rule for Georgians, but Europe for themselves”.
New elections. The Georgian President called on Europe to fight against lies and disinformation and to support the call for new elections following the legislative elections o 26 October, which the opposition described as rigged. On 14 December, an electoral college dominated by the ruling party nominated far-right loyalist Mikheil Kavelashvili as Georgia’s new president, in a vote boycotted by the opposition and deemed illegal by President Zourabichvili.
Pacifist movement. Since the end of November, thousands of pro-EU demonstrators have been mobilising every evening in Tbilisi and other cities to protest against the Georgian Dream party, accusing it of wanting to bring the country back into Moscow’s orbit.
“Georgians will not waver, but expect Europe to step up so we can defend Europe and its values together”, Salomé Zourabichvili implored, to a round of applause, despite the fact that the Chamber was not entirely full. This movement is peaceful, according to the President. This moment of civil disobedience calls for two things: “give us back our voice because of the stolen elections and give us back our future, our future in Europe”.
The European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, addressing Salomé Zourabichvili, recalled that “when you last visited this House, we discussed your country’s progress towards joining our European family”. But today, this journey is under threat”. “This House stands strong with the people of Georgia and your journey towards Europe. And our door will always remain open”, assured Ms Metsola.
During the plenary debate on preparations for the European Council (see other news), Valérie Hayer (Renew Europe, French) said that Salomé Zourabichvili represented “the last remaining independent institution in the country”. The so-called ‘Georgian Dream’ is in reality “the worst nightmare” for the people of Georgia, according to the MEP.
In addition, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, visited Georgia on Wednesday. According to a press release from the institution, the aim of the Swiss socialist’s visit is “to ensure the conditions for continued cooperation between the Council of Europe and Georgia in full compliance with the values and principles of the organisation” (see other news). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)