It was inevitable that the issue of Georgia’s expulsion from the Council of Europe would eventually appear on the political agenda. The fact that this issue is now on the agenda should be a massive alarm bell for every citizen of Georgia.
Salome Samadashvili, one of the leaders of “Lelo – Strong Georgia,” made this statement in response to a declaration by 51 deputies of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
According to her, “our country is governed by a regime that is effectively an extension of Vladimir Putin’s Russian regime in Georgia.”
“The Council of Europe is the first and most significant European organization we joined many years ago. In essence, this marked the beginning of Georgia’s path toward EU membership and integration into the European space. Today, our country is governed by a regime that is effectively an extension of Vladimir Putin’s Russian regime in Georgia, as evidenced, among other things, by the fact that not a single recommendation or demand of the Council of Europe has been fulfilled to date; on the contrary, every step has been taken in the opposite direction. It was inevitable that the issue of Georgia’s expulsion from the Council of Europe would eventually appear on the political agenda. Fortunately, this will not be a simple procedure and will require lengthy discussions. The fact that this issue is now on the agenda should be a massive alarm bell for every citizen of Georgia, indicating where Ivanishvili and his Russian regime are leading the country,” Samadashvili stated.
For information, 51 deputies of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe have published a declaration.
The document notes that on January 29, 2025, the Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution ratifying the credentials of the Georgian delegation on the condition that Georgia would meet democratic standards by April 2025, including releasing political prisoners and announcing new parliamentary elections under improved electoral conditions.
“If Georgia does not make progress in reversing its authoritarian course, we will challenge the credentials of the Georgian delegation on substantive grounds and call on the Assembly and the Committee of Ministers to initiate the process of Georgia’s expulsion,” the statement reads.
Salome Samadashvili: Not a single recommendation of the Council of Europe has been implemented; it is clear that, sooner or later, the issue of Georgia’s expulsion would appear on the political agenda – this should be an alarm bell for every citizen
