Prepared by Messenger Staff
EU Warns Georgian Opposition Party Ban Cases Threaten Democratic Pluralism
The European Commission has warned that legal proceedings seeking to ban five major opposition parties in Georgia, alongside recent legislative changes, raise concerns about the independence of the judicial system and democratic competition.
"We are monitoring the situation very closely and will continue to follow these proceedings," Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand said at a briefing, responding to a question from Euroscope about upcoming Constitutional Court hearings.
Wigand said the proceedings, considered alongside legislative changes and previous statements about banning opposition parties, point to a "concerning instrumentalization of the judicial system" that threatens fundamental freedoms, democratic pluralism and fair political competition.
The spokesperson also addressed the 30-day administrative detention sentence imposed on journalist Vakho Sanaia, criticizing what the Commission described as Georgian Dream's efforts to suppress opposition politicians, journalists and activists.
"The Georgian authorities must immediately release the unjustly detained politicians, journalists, and activists, and repeal repressive legislation," Wigand said.
Papuashvili Blames EU Policies for Unrest in France
Georgian Dream Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has accused EU leadership of pushing Europe toward a "civilizational abyss," linking recent demonstrations and clashes with police in several French cities to what he described as policies that disregard national interests.
"The European Union is currently destroying Europe in a civilizational sense," Papuashvili said. He argued that criticism of the bloc was intended to preserve European civilization, which he said needed to be rescued from Brussels and its leadership.
Papuashvili attributed the unrest to EU policies on migration and the economy, claiming that governments in member states were being pressured to act against their citizens' interests.
He also pointed to declining public trust in European governments, saying confidence in the leadership of Germany, France and other major countries stood at around 10%.
According to Papuashvili, this distrust has contributed to the violence seen in European cities. Referring to the unrest in Paris, he said fires had damaged not only buildings but also historical and cultural heritage sites.
"When we say that Brussels is driving Europe toward a civilizational abyss, we can see exactly what that abyss looks like in Paris," he said.
