On November 13, 2024, the European Parliament convened in Brussels to discuss the deepening democratic crisis in Georgia, spurred by allegations of electoral fraud in the recent parliamentary elections. Observers reported a climate of intimidation and misinformation surrounding the voting process.
Several members of the European Parliament (MEPs) shared their observations from the elections held on October 26. Marketa Gregorova, representing the Green group, highlighted her concerns regarding electoral manipulation and voter intimidation, contrasting her experiences from previous elections in Georgia.
Nathalie Loiseau, a member of the Renew Europe group, enumerated various violations, including ballot stuffing and the confiscation of identification documents, calling for an investigation into these irregularities. The Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, acknowledged the serious breaches of democratic standards during the elections and indicated that the ruling party, Georgian Dream, exploited its resources to instill fear among voters.
While some MEPs condemned the elections as undemocratic, others from far-right and far-left factions contended that the elections were legitimate and that the European Union (EU) should accept the results. Hans Neuhoff from the Identity and Democracy group asserted that there were no signs of repression and that the opposition had freedom to criticize the government.
Lukas Sieper, an independent MEP from Germany, remarked on the conflicting assessments of the election's legitimacy, emphasizing the broader implications for Georgia's political landscape, which he argued was increasingly aligning with non-democratic practices seen in Russia.
The EU has already reduced political contacts and suspended financial aid to Georgia in response to the perceived democratic backsliding. Schinas noted that Tbilisi had lost €30 million in European assistance and €121 million in direct government support due to these issues.
To restore full relations, the EU has outlined conditions for the Georgian government, including a commitment to reforms and the cessation of disinformation campaigns. MEPs are considering various sanctions, including the cancellation of visa-free travel and the complete cessation of EU aid.
The European Parliament is set to finalize its position on Georgia in a resolution during its next session in December.