NPA, Alm.del - 2024-25 - Bilag 5: Joint Statement of the Georgian Democratic Political Forces

NATO's Parlamentariske Forsamling 2024-25
NPA Alm.del Bilag 5
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Joint Statement of the Georgian Democratic Political Forces

We, the democratic political forces of Georgia

Guided by the national interests of Georgia;

Remaining faithful to the historic geopolitical choice of the people of Georgia, enshrined in Article

78 of the Constitution of Georgia;

Taking into account that the parliamentary elections of 26 October, 2024 were deeply flawed and

held in total violation of the constitutional principles and democratic norms and standards;

Noting, along with the international community, that the results of these “elections” do not reflect

the will of the people of Georgia;

Sharing the strongly negative assessment of local (ISFED, GYLA, WeVote) and international

(OSCE/ODIHR, PACE and IRI) observation missions; and the spirit of the resolution of the

European Parliament on Georgia on 28 November, 2024;

Reaffirming that the Georgian Dream “Parliament” as well as the “President” elected by this

“Parliament” are illegitimate and do not reflect the will of the people of Georgia;

Condemning the statement of Irakli Kobakhidze, on 28 November, 2024, regarding the suspension

of Georgia’s EU integration process;

Noting and condemning the crackdown, illegal detention, torture, and inhuman treatment of

civilians participating in continuous protests since 28 November, 2024;

We call upon friends and partners of Georgia and the entire international community to act firmly and

decisively against the self-proclaimed regime of the oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili and the Georgian Dream by

implementing the following course:

Non-Recognition Policy:

Refrain from recognizing the self-proclaimed regime of the Georgian

Dream as a legitimate government of Georgia. Refrain from recognizing, in any form, the legitimacy

of the “parliament” convened on 25 November, 2024, the “president” and the “ministers” approved

by the same self-declared “parliament.” Instead, treat the regime - and refer to it - as a self-

proclaimed regime of the Georgian Dream that has usurped the will of the Georgian people;

Sanctions for Accountability:

Continue imposing targeted sanctions on Georgian Dream

officials responsible for democratic backsliding, electoral fraud, state-sponsored terror, mass human

rights violations, and the persecution of political opponents and activists;

NPA, Alm.del - 2024-25 - Bilag 5: Joint Statement of the Georgian Democratic Political Forces

International Inquiry:

Continue pressing the Georgian Dream regime by Human Dimension

Mechanisms in OSCE; use the Council of Europe and UN monitoring mechanisms to investigate

details of the crackdown, illegal detention, torture, and inhuman and degrading treatment of

civilians participating in continuous protests since 28 November, 2024, as well as the mechanism

used by Georgian Dream to falsify 26 October elections;

Political Isolation:

To signal the Georgian Dream’s ostracization from the global democratic

community, cease invitations for official visits and participation in international events and forums

involving Georgian Dream representatives. Do not recognize the credentials of the Georgian Dream

delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE);

Financial Restrictions:

Suspend all financial support and strategic partnerships with the

Georgian Dream regime to prevent enabling its anti-democratic actions;

Diplomatic Engagement:

Direct ambassadors and representatives accredited to Georgia to avoid

formal recognition and abstain from all political engagement with the representatives of the self-

proclaimed regime. Refuse to issue

agréments

to new ambassadors appointed by the self-proclaimed

regime;

Call for Elections and Releases:

To restore legitimate governance, advocate for the immediate

release of all political prisoners charged with administrative or criminal “offenses” and the conduct

of free, fair, and transparent parliamentary elections;

Parliamentary Advocacy:

Convene hearings and pass resolutions in your national parliaments

to keep international attention focused on Georgia and its democratic struggles;

Support for Civil Society:

Strengthen collaboration with Georgia’s critical media, civil society

organizations, and opposition groups to foster resilience against authoritarianism;

10.

Continue to Recognize the Incumbent President of Georgia:

An illegitimate parliament

cannot elect a legitimate president. In the absence of legitimate presidential elections, the serving

President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, should be recognized as the president and the sole

legitimate representative of Georgia in international relations.