Concerns for the Democratic Situation in Georgia and the Continued Imprisonment of Mikheil Saakashvili, Nika Gvaramia, and Political Prisoners
Resolution tabled by the United National Movement of Georgia at the IDU Executive Meeting, June 21st, 2023 in London
Whereas, the Government of Georgia, led by the ruling Georgian Dream party and its founder Russian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, is leading Georgia onto a path contrary to democratic principles and against the Georgian people’s overwhelming desire for European and Euro- Atlantic integration;
Whereas, the policies of the Georgian Government have led to a failure to receive European Union membership candidacy status in 2022 and its current path is meant to divert Georgia’s Western integration;
Whereas, the oligarchic rule in Georgia has led to a collapse of institutional independence, has concentrated powers into the hands of one man, and has led to a complete state capture by Bidzina Ivanishvili;
Whereas, the Georgian Government is in direct violation of human rights, of democratic principles, and of Georgia’s European path by continuing the political revenge against its opponents and the unlawful imprisonment of former President Mikheil Saakashvili and media manager Nika Gvaramia;
Whereas, the Georgian Government is directly responsible for the continued deterioration of Mikheil Saakashvili’s health, which has been qualified as critical by international medical experts as well as the Council of Doctors operating under the Office of the Public Defender of Georgia, by refusing to provide proper treatment, refusing his medical transfer to a facility abroad, delaying visits by European Union-endorsed foreign doctors, and keeping him in complete isolation;
Whereas, the continued imprisonment of Mikheil Saakashvili is a direct violation of democratic principles, for free and fair elections cannot be held when the founder of the largest opposition party in Georgia remains behind bars;
Whereas, the Georgian Government has increased its anti-European and anti-democratic path in recent months by attempting to pass the so-called “Foreign Agents bill”, arresting protesters on groundless charges (including Lazare Grigoriadis who remains in prison to this day), reauthorizing direct flights with Russia despite concerns by the European Union and the United States, refusing to reform the judiciary despite international sanctioning of Georgian judges, and increasing trade routes with Russia despite the international sanctions regime;
The International Democrat Union:
- ! Calls on the authorities to end immediately the implementation of mechanisms aimed at further isolating Mikheil Saakashvili, including the ban on Members of Parliament visiting him and the unnecessary restrictions imposed on foreign doctors seeking to visit him;
- ! Calls on the Georgian authorities to take every step to protect the health of Mikheil Saakashvili, including by transferring him to a medical facility in Europe or the United States;
- ! Recognizes that Mikheil Saakashvili’s continued imprisonment goes against the principles of free and fair elections as it contradicts having a level-playing field between the Government and the Opposition, as well as the 12 recommendations provided by the European Commission to Georgia, and joins the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in recognizing him as a political prisoner of Vladimir Putin.Furthermore, the International Democrat Union calls on the authorities to immediately release other political prisoners, including Nika Gvaramia and Lazare Grigoriadis, be it through the presidential pardon power or any other mechanisms allowed by Georgian legislation.Finally, the International Democrat Union regrets the Georgian Government’s anti-European policies that go against the Georgian people’s unwavering will for European and Euro-Atlantic integration and calls on the authorities to immediately implement the 12 recommendations provided by the European Commission and ensure that the territory of Georgia is not used by the Russian Federation to evade international sanctions.