The European Parliament’s recognition of Salome Zurabishvili as the legitimate president of Georgia marks a significant milestone, according to MEP Andrzej Halicki (KO), a member of the EP’s Foreign Affairs Committee. He emphasized that the desires of the Georgian people are evidently pro-European.
In a recently adopted resolution, the European Parliament has declined to acknowledge the authority of the Georgian Dream party following the disputed parliamentary elections held on October 26, 2024, alongside the newly elected president Mikheil Kavelashvili. The resolution also urges the international community to join a boycott against Georgia’s ruling elite, while reaffirming support for Zurabishvili as the rightful leader of the country.
“The resolution received unanimous support across political lines, incorporating various amendments. One notable amendment we endorsed calls for doctors and lawyers to be granted access to former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. This is crucial as it highlights the clear pro-European aspirations of Georgian society,” Halicki stated during an interview with PAP.
He expressed concern about Russian influence on Georgia’s political landscape, arguing that it is exacerbating instability. “The road to realizing Georgia’s goal of EU membership and fostering development within the Western community and democratization is currently fraught with challenges. This ambition may only be realized with a shift in Russia’s own situation,” he noted.
Halicki further highlighted that the resolution addresses the plight of protesting Georgians facing violence, arrests, and unfair judicial sentences, drawing parallels to the circumstances in Russia and Belarus.
The European Parliament’s resolution also underscores that the only viable solution to Georgia’s ongoing crisis is the organization of new parliamentary elections, which MEPs believe should occur within the coming months under the supervision of an independent electoral authority and with oversight from international observers.
Since late November 2024, Georgia has witnessed a wave of anti-government protests triggered by the announcement that EU accession talks would be halted until 2028. Both Zurabishvili and opposition leaders have denounced the results of the October 26 elections as manipulated. Despite Mikheil Kavelashvili being inaugurated as president at the end of December, he lacks recognition from the opposition and numerous international stakeholders. (15.02.2025)
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