ALDE (Alliance for Liberals and Democrats for Europe) adopted a resolution on Georgia on October 6, entitled “Essential Fair Election Standards and Democratic Reforms in Georgia for EU Integration“, at the Party Congress which is taking place from October 4-6 in Estoril in Portugal. The resolution emphasizes the importance of democratic reforms, free and fair elections and condemns the democratic regression and persecution of opponents of the Georgian Dream Government. It also calls for personal sanctions to be imposed against Bidzina and his family, and for “duplication” of sanctions already imposed by US against those undermining the democracy in Georgia.
The resolution stresses the importance of free and fair elections, and of implementing democratic reforms. This includes those reflected in EU’s nine conditions for Georgia‘s EU Integration and the Copenhagen Criteria, as well aligning with the foreign and security policy of the EU. The document stresses that the anti-LGBT and Foreign Agents laws obstruct Georgian prospects for EU accession negotiations and expresses its support for Georgian critical media and civil society.
The resolution also expresses its support for the Georgian people’s commitment to join the EU. The resolution also expresses support for the Georgian people’s commitment to joining the EU.
The Party regrets, at the same, the adoption and enactment the “Russian Law”, and the “ongoing persecution of political figures in Georgia, such as President Saakashvili, and other political figures.
The document regrets “the spread and dissemination of anti-Western campaigns and disinformation by officials of the government, misleading and
intimidating citizens regarding EU integration.”
The resolution condemns terror campaigns against opponents of the regime including kidnappings and beatings as well as raids on offices of opposition parties and civil societies, ambushes, and physical attacks.
The resolution calls for the EU Commission to “strongly oppose violence or electoral rigging and make this clear to Georgian government”. The resolution also calls on the Renew Europe Group of the European Parliament to mobilize support for the implementation of this resolution and to impose personal sanctions against Bidzina and his family who are steering Georgia away from NATO and the EU.
The calls include the release of political prisoner, including the ex-president Saakashvili. They also call for the “dropping of cases against activists and protestors who protested “Russian Law” and the annulment of their sentences.”
ALDE Party calls for “immediately initiation of EU Accession Negotiations right after the Elections as soon as a new democratic government commits itself to reforms and fulfills the nine conditions”, while also increasing EU Support for Civil Society and enhancing election Monitoring in Georgia.
ALDE calls for the European Commission “to duplicate sanctions already imposed on politicians by the US, and those expected from the EU against politicians involved in the “Russian Law” and anti-democratic practice”, while urging that the highest political bodies within the EU “refrain from high-level contact with representatives of Georgian Dream government.”
ALDE is a member of the RENEW group in the European Parliament. With 74 seats, it is the 4th largest political group.
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