**Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Adopts Resolution on Georgia‘s Democratic Backsliding**
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has adopted a resolution expressing its concerns about the situation of local democracy in Georgia.
**Key Issues Identified**
The resolution highlights several key issues affecting local democracy in Georgia, including:
* The country’s rapid democratic backsliding over the past two years
* The marginalization of opposition parties and lack of dialogue between authorities and opposition
* Intimidation and stigmatization of NGOs and dissenting voices in the media
* Brutal repression of peaceful protesters and opponents by law-enforcement authorities
* Instrumentalization of public institutions, including at local level
**Concerns About Local Elections**
The resolution also expresses concerns about the 2025 local elections in Georgia, stating that they risk exacerbating the current situation. The Congress calls for guarantees to ensure free and fair elections and delays a visit to monitor the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government until after the upcoming local elections.
**Next Steps**
The Congress has instructed its Monitoring Committee to continue its work on ensuring free and fair elections and has called for a fact-finding or high-level visit, if necessary. The Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights is also invited to participate in such a visit to assess the situation of human rights at local level.
**Support for Georgia**
The Congress continues to support the implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia (2024-2027) through dedicated cooperation projects and reinforces the capacities of local authorities and their representative association to promote the needs and identify challenges existing at local level.
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