On November 11, the senior lawmakers of eight European Union countries (Germany, France, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, Finland) paid an official visit to Georgia.
During the visit, they first met with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili. The meeting was followed by a joint press conference. The delegation is also scheduled to meet with opposition parties and civil society organizations. Government officials have refused to meet with the delegation.
Press Conference
The visit started with the meeting with President Salome Zurabishvili, which was followed by a joint press-conference. President opened the press conference and presented the delegation. “They are truly devoted friends of Georgia, who […] stand by the Georgian state, the Georgian state building, the state construction, its European way.” She added: ” Their coming here today, when Georgia is entering a deep political crisis, is once again a sign of European support…”
Zurabishvili went on to say that Georgia is going through a political crisis because of “one-party-managed elections” and “one-party-rigged elections.”
“Our friends are here to see with us the ways for Georgia to get out of this crisis.” She said Georgia would return to “fair elections” with “just means” so that Georgia would get a “legitimate” Parliament, Government, and President.
The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag, Michael Roth said: “We represent different political parties… We represent eight nation states, but we all belong to Europe […] the European Union. We are here as friends of the Georgian people… We are not here to promote regime change,” he said, responding to the GD government’s discrediting campaign against the delegation.
“We are here because we are extremely concerned over the recent elections and the anti-democratic policies of the current Georgian government,” Roth said.
He stressed that the October 26 elections “were neither free nor fair” and spoke about the various alleged violations on election day, including ballot secrecy, vote buying, voter intimidation, and threats against the opposition and its supporters. All of these factors undermined the democratic process and “raise serious concerns about the legitimacy of the results,” he said.
Roth said the delegation “fully supports” the call by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk for an independent investigation into the elections. He said that if such an independent investigation cannot be ensured by a Georgian body, then international bodies such as the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the EU “must step in.”
“Without clarification of these allegations, the EU cannot recognize these elections as legitimate,” Roth said.
“If these allegations are not independently investigated, we will call for individual sanctions against those responsible for the election manipulation and voter intimidation,” he added, noting that “all tools” must be discussed, including the suspension of the visa-free regime with the EU. “We have to put all instruments we have on the table,” he said.
“We stand firmly with the Georgian people in their commitment to European values of democracy, rule of law and human rights,” Roth said, but added: “However, if the current government continues its anti-European trajectory, fails to repeal laws like the Russian Agent law, and persists in undermining EU principles, Georgia’s progress towards the EU membership will remain stalled.”
As the delegation met with the President, protesters against the allegedly rigged elections gathered outside the Orbeliani Palace to thank them for their support of the Georgian people. The members of the delegation came out into the crowd and greeted them.
The delegation members are expected to join the rally of protesters against what they see as stolen elections.
The members of the delegation included: Marko Mihkelson, Estonia, Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee; Jukka Kopra, Finland, Chair of Defence Committee; Frédéric Petit, France, Deputy Chair of European Affairs Committee, National Assembly; Michael Roth, Germany, Chair of Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee; Ināra Mūrniece, Latvia, Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee; Žygimantas Pavilionis, Lithuania, Deputy Speaker, Chair of European Affairs Committee; Michał Kamiński, Poland, Deputy Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland; Erik Ottoson, Sweden, Chair of the Committee on European Union Affairs
Meeting with Opposition
After meeting with President Salome Zurabishvili, the delegation met with representatives of Georgian opposition parties
According to the opposition leaders, the discussions focused on the ongoing processes in Georgia, with an emphasis on the elections, the prospects of its investigation, and the possible steps the EU could take in response to the actions of the GD government.
“Today’s discussion was about the ongoing processes, what could be the solution, how we should act, what attitude the opposition [parties] should have independently and as a whole, how to communicate with them, what threats there are, what actions we should expect from the government, and what could be the negative consequences of the course the Georgian Dream has taken Georgia,” said Dimitri Tskitishvili of Gakharia-For Georgia.
“One of the main directions we discussed today was the international investigation [of the elections],” said Tinatin Bokuchava of Unity-UNM, adding that there is an understanding that the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office cannot conduct a fair investigation. “There are several mechanisms that can be the basis for such an investigative instrument, be it the European Parliament or the European Commission,” she added, noting that there is a readiness to conduct such an investigation.
“There was talk that not only should Georgia’s European integration be stopped, but that we might lose the benefits that Georgia receives from Europe, which are free trade, visa-free travel, candidate status,” Zurab Japaridze of Coalition for Change said.
“Very painful steps are expected, and this [taking such steps] is a common practice; as Georgian Dream has captured the government and tries to carry out anti-European policies, it gets a corresponding response from Europe,” Badri Japaridze of Strong Georgia said.
As part of their visit the European lawmakers had meetings with civil society representatives, media representatives, and with the October 26 election observers.
They also took part in the “We are Europe” rally on November 11 and addressed the demonstrators with the words of support to their European and democratic aspirations.
Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee at German Bundestag, Michael Roth addressed the crowd saying that he is happy to be in Tbilisi -the “true capital of Europe.” He said he knows that the government is “not happy” about the delegation’s visit, and added: “We are not an enemy, we are friends of free, democratic Georgia!” He said: ” They criticize us because of “interference in internal affairs of your country. Is it interference to meet your President?” he asked rhetorically, adding that she fights “for the bright future of your country.”
“If you win, we will win, if you will survive, we in EU will survive. Solidarity must unite us,” he added emphatically. He addressed the crowd saying: “Democracy is alive, not because of the ruling party, but because of you!” The German lawmaker said that in liberal democracy fight for freedom never stops: “We can never say mission accomplished, this process never ends, we have to defend democracy, defend freedom in our universities, business, families, politics.” “Don’t give up! We are with you!” Michael Roth addressed the crowd.
Vice-Speaker and Chair of the Committee on European Affairs and of the Lithuanian Parliament Žygimantas Pavilionis, addressed the crowd with words: “Don’t give up! Fight for your freedom fight for your democracy, fight for you country; for your membership in the EU and NATO!”
President of the EU Committee of the Swedish Riksdag Filip Ottoson recalled the courage of the Georgians who stood up to Russia in 2008. He stressed that there is only one, “democratic” way to Europe through the rule of law and human rights. He also told the demonstrators that by fighting for democracy they “keep it alive.”