During a debate at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), rapporteur Edite Estrela warned of a deepening political crisis in Georgia, citing democratic backsliding and increasing authoritarian tendencies by the government.

She criticized the Georgian authorities for rejecting dialogue, silencing opposition voices, imprisoning journalists and civil society leaders, and pushing laws that restrict NGOs, such as the Foreign Agent Registration Act and the Law on Grants. Estrela also condemned reported mass dismissals of pro-EU public servants and the government’s alleged plans to ban opposition parties, calling it a step toward a one-party state.

“These actions are incompatible with Georgia’s obligations as a Council of Europe member,” Estrela said, urging the government to halt the democratic decline, restore fundamental freedoms, and re-engage in meaningful dialogue.

By adopting the resolution, she emphasized, the Assembly stands not against Georgia, but with its people and their aspirations for democracy and a European future.