Resolution 2561 (2024)1Provisional version

Challenges to democracy in GeorgiaParliamentary Assembly

1. The Parliamentary Assembly expresses its deep concern about the recent developments in Georgiathat raise serious doubts about the country’s commitment to international democratic norms and Euro-Atlanticintegration, and about its willingness to honour its membership obligations and accession commitments to theCouncil of Europe.

2. The Assembly takes note of and expresses its full support for the urgent Opinion of the EuropeanCommission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) on the Law on transparency of foreigninfluence, and considers that this law, as well as the manner in which it was adopted by the GeorgianParliament, are incompatible with European democratic and human rights standards, as reflected in theobligations and commitments of Georgia to the Council of Europe. The Assembly is of the view that this lawhas nothing to do with financial transparency of non-commercial entities, including civil society organisationsand media – for which a comprehensive legal framework already exists in Georgia – nor with preventingnefarious covert foreign interference, rather, it allows undue political control by the authorities over civil societyand the media. The law should therefore be repealed in its entirety without any delay.

3. The Assembly is deeply concerned about the excessive and disproportional use of force by the policeand the violent attacks and intimidation campaigns against demonstrators, civil society activists, journalists,and members of parliament, which amount to a crackdown on legitimate displays of disagreement anddissent. It is also concerned that these attacks and acts of intimidation are not sufficiently investigated andcondemned by the authorities and that this could lead to a climate of impunity for such acts. The Assemblystresses that such actions have no place in a democratic society. It is now urgent that all reports of excessiveuse of force, violent attacks and intimidation campaigns be fully and transparently investigated by theappropriate authorities and that perpetrators be to brought to justice. The authorities should without delay takeevery necessary measure and precaution to uphold and protect the safety of all protesters, civil societyactivists, journalists, and members of parliament, irrespective of their opinion on this law.

4. In that context the Assembly reiterates its concerns expressed in Resolution 2438 (2022) as regardsthe Georgian Law on Administrative Offences, which is fundamentally flawed and allows for an overbroadapplication of administrative detention and excessively high fines, and which is vulnerable to abuse. Thenumber of persons arrested or issued with – high – fines under this law during the recent demonstrations isconsequently to be deplored.

5. The Assembly is concerned moreover that the controversial adoption of the Law on transparency offoreign influence is not an isolated event, but the culmination of a series of developments that clearly indicatea democratic backsliding by the country. This trend needs to be reversed. The Assembly urges the Georgianauthorities to recommit in clear terms to the country’s democratic consolidation and further Europeanintegration, and to honour Georgia’s membership obligations and accession commitments to the Council ofEurope, not only in words but also by concrete and tangible actions.

1. Assembly debate on 27 June 2024 (21st sitting) (see Doc. 16018, report of the Committee on the Honouring ofObligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee), co-rapporteur:Mr Claude Kern and Ms Edite Estrela). Text adopted by the Assembly on 27 June 2024 (21st sitting).

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