Strasbourg, Summer Session 2025 – UK Member of Parliament Stephen Gethins delivered a powerful address at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), calling for urgent international action to safeguard democratic principles and human rights in Georgia.

Gethins emphasized the need for inclusive dialogue involving political parties, civil society, and democratic institutions. “That’s something that the UK and the OSCE have consistently called for—peaceful and democratic solutions, which are so precious to all of us in this place,” he said.

He warned of the growing democratic backsliding in Georgia and highlighted Europe’s responsibility to act:

“We have a responsibility to our friends in Georgia and to all those who aspire to enjoy the rights we take for granted. Today, I urge my colleagues to take a stand—to defend these rights. Where better to do so than in this chamber, which has defended democracy and human rights across our shared continent for decades.”

Referring to a stirring speech made the night before by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Gethins reiterated that standing for democracy and human rights must be a non-negotiable condition for European integration:

“President Zelenskyy reminded us that membership in this community comes with one essential condition—commitment to democracy and human rights. We must guard that condition jealously.”

Addressing the troubling political developments in Georgia, Gethins strongly condemned the jailing of opposition leaders and politically motivated prosecutions, naming several high-profile figures including Zurab Japaridze, Nika Melia, Nika Gvaramia, Mamuka Khazaradze, Giorgi Vashadze, and Badri Japaridze.

“The imprisonment of political opponents and suppression of dissent is the exact opposite of what this Assembly stands for. We must send a clear message: all European states are welcome—but they must abide by our shared democratic rules.”

Gethins also recalled Resolution 2600, passed earlier in the year, which called for the immediate release of political prisoners in Georgia and raised alarm over the abuse of legal processes. He warned against punishing individuals for engaging with European institutions like the Council of Europe, calling such actions a serious threat to democratic engagement.

He echoed the concerns of EU officials, citing remarks from EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, who described the arrest of opposition voices as “an attack on Georgia’s democratic foundations,” and EU spokesperson Anitta Hipper, who criticized these actions as “authoritarian tactics.”

Gethins concluded by underlining the stakes:

“We must not forget the price that many Georgians are paying for exercising rights that so many of us take for granted. We cannot turn a blind eye. Nobody understands this better than our Ukrainian friends, who are sacrificing everything to defend their democracy. Georgia deserves no less.”

His remarks serve as a strong call to action for European leaders to uphold the continent’s democratic principles and support those facing political repression.