In a joint statement, Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, France's Jean-Noël Barrot and Germany's Annalena Baerbock said on Tuesday that they were "seriously concerned about the political crisis which erupted in Georgia following the 26th October parliamentary elections and Georgian Dream decision to freeze EU accession process."
'Departure from European path'
The statement added that "the reason for the crisis is the political course of the Georgia’s ruling party and its departure from the European path."
The Polish foreign minister and his French and German counterparts reiterated their appeal to Georgian authorities "to reverse their course and to return to the EU integration by upholding European norms and values and implementing reforms."
They also condemned "last weeks’ violence against peaceful protesters, media and opposition leaders and recall Georgian authorities’ responsibility to respect human rights and protect fundamental freedoms, including the freedom to assembly and media freedom."
"We condemn in the strongest terms threats against political figures," Sikorski, Barrot and Baerbock said in their statement.
They added that "the political course of repression and democratic backsliding by the Georgian Dream has in reaction led to a downgrading of our relationship at European and national level and a reduction of our assistance to and cooperation with Georgia’s authorities."
End of visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats, other measures
The three countries announced plans to "implement the EU decision on ending visa-free travel for Georgian diplomatic and service passport holders and consider additional measures on EU and national level."
Citing an "OSCE/ODIHR final report," the Polish, French and German foreign ministers said that Georgia's October 26 elections "were not conducted according to standards expected from an EU candidate."
They declared the report confirmed their "concerns regarding the integrity of the electoral process with widespread irregularities and improper investigations to respond to allegations."
The statement called on Georgian authorities "to engage in a national dialogue with all relevant stakeholders to find a way out of the current situation and to restore public trust in Georgian democracy."
It said that "the call for the implementation of OSCE/ODIHR recommendations and standards, including possibility of new elections, coming from parts of Georgian society, deserves to be addressed by authorities, in earnest dialogue with all political forces and representatives of civil society."
The three top diplomats reiterated their "determination to support the democratic and European aspirations of the Georgian people."
Poland, France and Germany work together as part of a trilateral cooperation platform known as the Weimar Triangle.
Earlier this month, the Polish, French and German foreign ministers expressed regret over the Georgian ruling party's decision to suspend EU accession talks until 2028, saying that the move contradicts the European aspirations of the Georgian people.
In October, the three top diplomats voiced concern over the rise in aggressive anti-EU rhetoric in Georgia, warning that the EU would not tolerate the spread of "false narratives" about European positions and policies by the Georgian authorities.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, gov.pl