Prepared by Messenger Staff
PACE Adopts Resolution Warning of 'Rapid Rollback of Democracy' in Georgia
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on October 2 titled "Upholding Democracy and the Rule of Law in Georgia", expressing grave concern over what it described as a democratic crisis in the country.
Of the 77 delegates present, 68 voted in favor of the resolution, seven voted against, and two abstained. The text was presented by PACE co-rapporteurs for Georgia, Edite Estrela of Portugal and Sabina Cudic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the adopted resolution, the Assembly said that Georgian authorities have "systematically ignored" its concerns and recommendations, as well as those of the wider international community. "The rapid rollback of democracy has progressed so far that the existence of democracy in Georgia is now in question," the text reads. It also condemned what it called "increasingly isolationist policies" and "baseless attacks and unfounded, damaging accusations" directed at international partners.
The resolution devoted particular attention to the upcoming October 4 local elections. PACE said it regretted that its earlier call for the creation of an inclusive process to ensure genuinely democratic elections had not been implemented. "This is evident from the decision of the majority of opposition parties not to participate in the upcoming local elections," the document notes.
It further expressed concern over the lack of independent monitoring. PACE said it was "deeply regrettable" that Georgian authorities had not invited the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities to observe the elections, and criticized the late invitation sent to the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), which made their participation impossible.
"The Assembly is concerned that these elections will not be monitored by civil society organizations with a strong reputation for election observation," the resolution states, warning that the absence of credible monitoring would cast serious doubt on the legitimacy of the vote.
Prosecutor's Office Charges UNM's Zviad Kuprava with Calling for Government Overthrow
The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia announced on October 2 that Zviad Kuprava, a member of the opposition United National Movement (UNM) and Tbilisi City Council, has been formally charged with calling for the overthrow of the government and resisting law enforcement officers.
According to the statement, the investigation by the State Security Service found that on September 30 Kuprava posted a Facebook video urging citizens to overthrow the government on October 4, the day of Georgia's local elections. Prosecutors said the video contained references to specific violent actions planned for that day.
The agency added that Kuprava resisted officers from the State Security Service during his detention on October 1, which was carried out under a court order.
The Prosecutor's Office charged Kuprava under Article 317, which criminalizes calls for the overthrow of state power, and Article 353, which covers resisting a government representative. Both charges carry a potential prison sentence of up to six years.
Authorities confirmed they will apply to the court to seek pre-trial detention in the case.
