Priority question for written answer  P-002424/2025
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 144
Krzysztof Brejza (PPE)

In recent years, Georgia has experienced a serious decline in democratic standards. Political leaders and civil society activists are being subjected to politically motivated prosecution, with trials lacking judicial independence. Citizens face intimidation and blackmail by state authorities. Free and independent media are being silenced, journalists harassed and dissent suppressed.

While Russia is not using direct military force, it exerts control through hybrid tactics – disinformation, support for authoritarian governance and institutional capture. This reflects the Kremlin’s broader regional strategy.

At the heart of this process is oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who, despite holding no official role, exerts de facto control over the Georgian government. His influence is instrumental in undermining Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic path and aligning it with Russian interests. He is supported by a network of political actors complicit in democratic erosion and authoritarian consolidation.

In the light of this backsliding:

Submitted: 16.6.2025

Last updated: 19 June 2025