What took Putin 12 years in Russia has happened in Georgia in just 12 months, Perran Moon (United Kingdom) told the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
It is now clear, he said, that “the windows of democracy in Georgia are closing faster than anyone feared.”
Moon said that not only politicians are now being targeted in Georgia, but activists, universities, intellectuals, journalists and even NGOs are “targeted by brutal repression.
“As for civil society, what took Putin 12 years to achieve in Russia has happened in Georgia in just 12 months.
In January, when I first addressed this Assembly, I spoke of the existential threat facing Georgian democracy, as the world looked the other way, with a rapid escalation of repression. The growing manipulation of public institutions, the growing suppression of political opposition and the rise of kleptocratic practices suggest that more action is urgently needed.
The escalation of attacks on civil society suggests that it is not just politicians who are now being targeted. Activists, academics, intellectuals, journalists and NGOs are also being targeted in this brutal repressions.
I reiterated my concerns in June, and the UK has made some progress since then. Finally, new sanctions were announced against the Georgian Dream-affiliated supporters of the Russian invasion of Ukraine [Vasadze, Partskhaladze]. But given the huge sums invested in London, the British government still has a lot to do.
Yesterday I was reading with concern in The Guardian some very disturbing reports about the Georgian Dream’s links to the Iranian regime…
As Putin’s influence in Georgia grows stronger and civil society deteriorates, I reiterate my deep concern that time is running out. The windows of Georgia’s democracy are closing. And I ask you to finally consider this question – if it took Putin only 12 months to bring Georgia’s democracy to where it is today, where will it be in 12 months?” Moon said.
Perran Moon: What took Putin 12 years in Russia has happened in Georgia in just 12 months – the windows of democracy in Georgia are closing faster than anyone feared
