The European Parliament and the legislatures of nine European states have called for an international investigation into the Georgian elections and sanctions against politicians and officials responsible for possible fraud.
“We demand that the Georgian authorities ensure that all allegations of election manipulation (including in the pre-election period), especially with regard to voter intimidation and bribery, are transparently investigated. Since the existing allegations are so serious, only an independent international investigation can review and investigate these elections and all reported violations in the pre-election period and during the elections,” the politicians said in a joint statement.
They call for access to the voting protocols so that “every voter can check the accuracy of information about the fact, time and place of his vote”. The same demand is voiced by the opposition. The CEC of Georgia refuses under the pretext of threat of personal data leakage.
The letter also calls for the abolition of “legislation that undermines the fundamental rights and freedoms of Georgian citizens and organizations and contradicts the values and principles on which the EU is based”.
The authors of the appeal believe that the European Union should impose sanctions on Georgian officials and political leaders “who are responsible for violations of the electoral process, including the use of state institutions and administrative resources throughout the election campaign”. Separately mentioned here is billionaire founder and honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili.
In case the Georgian authorities refuse an international investigation into the elections, European lawmakers propose:
Freeze all EU funds involved in aid and cooperation projects with Georgian state and public institutions. Exclude projects to support civil society and establish rule of law structures.
Review the EU's visa-liberalization regime with Georgia, “without ruling out the possibility of its complete suspension.”
“We will continue to support the Georgian people and their European choice. We will also continue to unwaveringly support Georgia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally established borders,” the letter said.
The appeal was signed by:
Christina Schwarz-Fuchs, Chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Austrian Federal Council;
Els Van Hoof, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives of Belgium;
Pavel Fischer, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, Defense and Security of the Senate of the Czech Republic;
Marko Mihkelson, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament;
Peeter Tali, Chairman of the European Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament;
Jukka Kopra, Chairman of the Defense Committee of the Parliament of Finland;
Heikki Autto, Chairman of the Grand Committee of the Parliament of Finland;
Sebastian Tynkkinen, Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Finland;
Frédéric Petit, Vice-President of the Foreign Affairs Commission in the French National Assembly;
Michael Roth, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Bundestag;
Anton Hofreiter, Chairman of the European Affairs Committee of the Bundestag;
Rasa Jukneviciene, Member of the European Parliament;
Raphael Glücksmann, Member of the European Parliament;
Richard Kohls, Member of the European Parliament;
Charlie Flanagan, Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Irish Parliament;
Leah Quartapelle, Vice-Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Italian Parliament.
Reprinted from https://www.newsgeorgia.ge/
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