MEPs Meet with Georgia’s Opposition Groups to Discuss Fair Election Reform

Tbilisi (Eurotoday) – MEPs Michał Wawrykiewicz and Dainius Žalimas support Georgia’s opposition demand for fair elections and democracy.

Members of European Parliament Michał Wawrykiewicz and Dainius Žalimas seated with representatives of opposition groups of Georgia in Tbilisi. As reported by 1TV of Georgia, associates from the Unity-National Movement, Strong Georgia, and Gakharia For Georgia partook in the gathering.

Za chwilkę startuję do Tbilisi. W Gruzji sytuacja napięta. Pojutrze prorosyjski rząd „Gruzińskiego Marzenia”, wyłoniony w nieuznawanych przez świat wyborach, będzie próbował obsadzić nowego prezydenta. Europa wspiera prezydentkę Zurabiszwili i protestujących od miesiąca obywateli blank”>pic.twitter.com/Rs4QTDhh6m

— Michał Wawrykiewicz MEP🇵🇱🇪🇺 (@MicWawrykiewicz) blank”>December 27, 2024

Following the meeting, MEP Michał Wawrykiewicz stated that they backed the opposition’s demand for free elections. On the query, of whether the European Union would join US sanctions on GD Honorary Chair Bidzina Ivanishvili, the MEP stated he had no response to that question yet.

“We are functioning on that and fully back the US administration in this decision. We listen to the clear call to the world that Georgia’s elections were seized. Bidzina Ivanishvili is associated with the Russian authoritarian government, which attempts to hold this country under full control,”

said Michał Wawrykiewicz.

MEP Dainius Žalimas expressed following the discussion that a joint action strategy and partnership ways were consulted during the session.

“We voiced our solidarity with the civil society and democratic forces of Georgia. We fully share the perspective that Georgian parliamentary elections were unlawful, the acting parliament is unlawful and we fully back President Salome Zourabichvilli. There are many problems with how to collaborate in the future. I think of the inevitable conclusion to hold new elections, which must be fair, under actual international oversight and in line with all international norms,”

Dainius Žalimas stated.

Why are Georgians protesting against their government?

The opposition in Georgia is now more prominent due to the ongoing protests and political unrest, especially after the controversial parliamentary elections that were held in October 2024. 

The political unrest and protests in Georgia in recent months have been mainly based on public dissatisfaction with the government. The protesters in Tbilisi are actively calling for new elections as a means of opposing the government’s anti-European Union policy. The political crisis that led to the unrest is directly related to the ruling party, Georgian Dream, which has recently altered its foreign policy from pro-EU to a pro-Russian and Eurasian stance. They also demand democratic freedoms, including the freedom of some detained protesters.