IDU Resolution on Georgia
Resolution tabled by the United National Movement (UNM), Georgia at the IDU Executive Meeting, December 6th in Washington D.C.
Resolution on Georgia
Whereas, state institutions, including the judiciary, electoral administration, have been weaponized by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili to suppress political opponents – first and foremost, former President Mikheil Saakashvili – civil society, and to consolidate of his authoritarian rule;
Whereas, the October 26 parliamentary elections, characterized by massive fraud, violence, pressure, intimidation, vote-buying, and other violations did not comply with democratic standards. Neither observers nor democratic partners recognized the elections as free and fair. Opposition parties have rejected the legitimacy of the results and refuse to accept their parliamentary seats;
Whereas the November 28 statement by the Georgian Dream party suspending the country’s EU accession drives the country back into Russia’s orbit and violates the Constitution of Georgia which stipulates the country’s full integration into the European Union and NATO;
Whereas, the brutal violence, mass arbitrary arrests, and fines applied by the authorities against peaceful protesters and media is a blatant violation of fundamental freedoms and the rights to assembly and expression that is indicative of Georgia’s rapid descent into authoritarianism;
Whereas, over the last years, the disinformation and reckless attacks on Georgia’s Western strategic partners by the ruling Georgian Dream such as Russian-inspired Foreign Influence Law, tactics of fear employed during the campaign against ordinary voters and threats to ban the democratic opposition clearly demonstrated Ivanishvili’s authoritarian ambitions;
Whereas, as a result of the Georgian Dream’s anti-democratic policies, the European Union has halted the integration process and cancelled the financial aid to Georgia. On November 30, the United States suspended the US-Georgia Strategic Partnership signed in 2009;
Therefore, the International Democracy Union:
- Condemns the undemocratic conduct of the October 26 parliamentary elections that do not represent the will of the people, and calls on the democratic partners globally not to recognize the legitimacy of the outcome of elections;
- Deplores the violence against the peaceful protesters defending their European future, and calls on the Georgian authorities to stop violence against demonstrators, immediately release hundreds of arrested, and hold accountable the special forces and police officers complicit in violent attacks on peaceful civilians and journalists;
- Welcomes the personal sanctions imposed on Georgian officials by the United States, Canada, and the three Baltic states, and calls on all democratic partners globally to expand targeted personal sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, leaders of the Georgian Dream, and the self-proclaimed government, judges, law-enforcement and election administration officials responsible for undermining democracy, political persecution and grave violation of human rights, depriving the citizens of their constitutional rights, involvement in corruption, and strengthening the authoritarian regime in Georgia;
- Reiterates its call for immediate and unconditional release of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, who remains imprisoned on politically motivated charges by Georgia’s pro-Russian regime, and calls on President Salome Zourabichvili to use her constitutional power to pardon him;
- Welcomes the decision of the European Union to deploy a mission to Georgia to probe election fraud;
- Reiterates its strong support for Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, democracy, and the Georgian people’s courageous fight for their European future.