PACE monitors call on Georgia to end politically motivated actions against opposition
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Monitors from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe have urged the Georgian government to stop what they describe as politically motivated legal measures targeting opposition parties and their leaders. The call followed a three day visit to the country by PACE co-rapporteurs Edite Estrela of Portugal and Sabina Cudic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who were in Georgia from 10 to 12 November 2025 to assess recent political developments and the state of democratic institutions.
A central part of their message focused on controversial legislation that has drawn criticism from European institutions. The co-rapporteurs said the authorities must implement the recommendations issued by the Venice Commission concerning the foreign agent laws and the legislation governing administrative offences. They stated that "the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, the Georgian Foreign Agents Registration Act, the Law on Grants and the current Law on Administrative Offences are incompatible with European standards and norms." They added that the Venice Commission concluded these laws "should be repealed," and emphasized that the Assembly has repeatedly expressed the same position.
During their visit, the monitors also raised concerns about what they described as a troubling escalation of legal pressure on opposition figures. They reacted strongly to recent criminal charges filed against leaders of democratic opposition parties, noting that these individuals could face long prison terms for offences they believe are fabricated. The co-rapporteurs said the charges appear connected to several appeals submitted to the Constitutional Court which seek to ban major opposition parties from political activity. They warned that "these charges are clearly politically motivated" and insisted that "such actions have no place in a democratic society."
Estrela and Cudic held meetings with the Speaker of Parliament, members of the Georgian Dream faction, and representatives from both parliamentary and extra parliamentary opposition groups. They said they appreciated the opportunity to speak with imprisoned political leaders, which they had specifically requested. However, they expressed regret that government officials refused to meet them during the visit. They also stated that authorities denied their request to visit detainee Mzia Amaghlobeli, a decision they described as deeply disappointing.
Despite the setbacks, the co-rapporteurs said they remain committed to dialogue with the Georgian government. They affirmed their readiness to work together on addressing the issues raised by the Assembly and on bringing national legislation into compliance with European principles. They stressed that constructive engagement is essential for restoring trust and ensuring that democratic standards are respected in Georgia.
