In a joint statement, Poland's President Andrzej Duda and his Baltic counterparts said that the decision to halt EU membership talks "constitutes a serious setback to the aspirations of the Georgian people."
They added that the parliamentary elections held in Georgia on October 26 were "marred by significant controversy, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the newly elected parliament."
"We take note of the European Parliament’s call for a re–run of the Georgian parliamentary elections and strongly urge an independent international investigation into numerous reported violations, including voter intimidation and undue pressure, which have undermined public confidence in the electoral process and its outcomes," the four presidents said.
"We condemn in the strongest terms the use of force against the Georgian people, as well as the arbitrary detentions of individuals exercising their rights," they added.
The four leaders also called on the Georgian authorities to "immediately cease these violent actions and to uphold the fundamental freedoms of assembly and expression, in accordance with Georgia’s international commitments."
"All acts of violence must be investigated immediately and those responsible must be held accountable," they stated.
"We reaffirm our unwavering support for the Georgian people’s aspirations toward European integration and their steadfast dedication to democratic values," the presidents concluded.
The foreign ministers of Poland, France and Germany on Friday decried 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.
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Source: IAR, PAP, president.pl