The Georgian people deserve a bright future in the European Union

Renew Europe has today issued a statement (please read it here) on the deeply deplorable situation in Georgia, in light of the decision yesterday by its illegitimate governing bloc to suspend its application of 3 March 2022 to join the European Union and to halt the European Union integration process.

The statement condemns the violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrations and reminds the governing party of the rights of assembly of Georgian citizens.

The European Parliament this week adopted a resolution, shaped by Renew Europe, calling for a re-run of the 26 October parliamentary elections, which were neither free nor fair, and for EU Member States to impose personal sanctions on the officials and political leaders in Georgia who are responsible for democratic backsliding, including oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Valérie Hayer, President of Renew Europe, said:

"We stand with the overwhelming majority of Georgian people who want to live in a democracy and have a brighter, European future. The Georgian Dream Party is destroying relations with the EU against the wishes of its own people. EU sanctions targeting the people who are reversing democracy in Georgia must now be on the table."

Urmas Paet (Estonian Reform Party), Renew Europe MEP, who led the negotiations on the resolution, added:

“The people of Georgia deserve a European future and a government that respects their wishes. Slipping back into the hands of Russia is not an option.”

Petras Auštrevičius (Lithuanian Liberal Movement), Renew Europe MEP, concluded:

“Fraudulent elections, one-party parliamentary rule, disregard for the will of the people and the Constitution, and finally violence against peaceful demonstrators are clear signs that the ruling Georgian Dream has gone too far. We hear the voice of the Georgian people and stand in solidarity with them.”