The democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia

Amendments tabled for the plenary sitting on this text, in their own numbering series. This is a different set from the committee amendments tracked elsewhere on AmendEU, and is not counted in any of the site’s amendment totals.

1. Amendment 1The LeftJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 1 a (new)
   Amendment

   1a. Stresses that Georgia’s future must reflect the will of its people; underlines the necessity of holding free and fair elections, without foreign intervention from any side; calls on all sides to respect the verdict of the will and free choice of the Georgian people in the upcoming parliamentary elections;

   official amendment document ↗
2. Amendment 2ESNJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 1
   Current text

   1. Expresses its deep concern about the democratic backsliding in Georgia, which has occurred exponentially throughout this year and especially ahead of the parliamentary elections on 26 October; strongly condemns the adoption of the law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and the law on ‘family values and protection of minors’, as well as the changes to the Electoral Code; considers that the above are tools used by the government to violate freedom of expression, censor media, impose restrictions on critical voices in civil society and the NGO sector or to discriminate against vulnerable people; underscores that the foregoing are also incompatible with EU values and democratic principles…

   Amendment

   1. Takes note of the adoption of the law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and the law on ‘family values and protection of minors’, as well as the changes to the Electoral Code; considers that the above do not violate freedom of expression, censor media, impose restrictions on critical voices in civil society and the NGO sector or discriminate against vulnerable people; underscores that the foregoing are also compatible with EU values and democratic principles, in line with Georgia’s ambitions for EU membership and the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration; reaffirms Georgia’s sovereignty and freedom to legislate independently, without external interference and pressure;

   Excerpt — full text in the official PDF.
   official amendment document ↗
3. Amendment 3RenewJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 6
   Current text

   6. Reiterates its unwavering support for the Georgian people’s legitimate European aspirations and their wish to live in a prosperous country, free from corruption, that fully respects fundamental freedoms, protects human rights and guarantees an open society and independent media; underlines that the decision to grant Georgia EU candidate country status was motivated by the wish to acknowledge the achievements and democratic efforts of Georgia’s civil society as well as the overwhelming support for EU accession among its citizens, with over 80 % of the Georgian people consistently in favour; appreciates the efforts made by Georgia’s President Salome Zourabishvili to return Georgia to the de…

   Amendment

   6. Reiterates its unwavering support for the Georgian people’s legitimate European aspirations and their wish to live in a prosperous country, free from corruption, that fully respects fundamental freedoms, protects human rights and guarantees an open society and independent media; underlines that the decision to grant Georgia EU country candidate status was motivated by the wish to acknowledge the achievements and democratic efforts of Georgia’s civil society as well as the overwhelming support for EU accession among its citizens, with over 80 % of the Georgian people consistently in favour; appreciates the efforts made by Georgia’s President Salome Zourabishvili to return Georgia to the de…

   Excerpt — full text in the official PDF.
   official amendment document ↗
4. Amendment 4ECRJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 7
   Current text

   7. Deplores the personal role played by Georgia’s oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who returned to active politics on 30 December 2023 when he became ‘honorary chairman’ of the Georgian Dream party, in the current political crisis and in yet another attempt to undermine the Euro-Atlantic orientation of the country in favour of pivoting towards Russia; reiterates its call on the Council and the EU’s democratic partners to impose immediate and targeted personal sanctions on Ivanishvili for his role in the deterioration of the political process in Georgia;

   Amendment

   7. Deplores the personal role played by Georgia’s oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who returned to active politics on 30 December 2023, when he became ‘honorary chairman’ of the Georgian Dream party, in the current political crisis and in yet another attempt to undermine the Euro-Atlantic orientation of the country in favour of pivoting towards Russia; reiterates its call on the Council and the EU’s democratic partners to impose immediate and targeted personal sanctions on Ivanishvili for his role in the deterioration of the political process in Georgia as well as other activities benefiting the Russian Federation;

   official amendment document ↗
5. Amendment 5PfEJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 9 a (new)
   Amendment

   9a. Points out that every country has the right to formulate laws on matters related to the protection of its sovereignty or to family policy; recalls the need to respect the sovereignty and the sovereign decisions of Georgia;

   official amendment document ↗