Threat to democracy in Georgia

Doc. 9601

14 October 2002

Threat to democracy in Georgia

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Rogozin and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1. The Assembly expresses concern over the situation that has been developing in Georgia in connection with the preparation by the National Security Council of Georgia of a “Plan for the settlement of Georgian-Russian relations”. According to the members of the Georgian Parliament, this document envisages repressive measures against politicians, including parliamentarians, who disagree with the presidential political course.

2. The Assembly is concerned by the Georgian authorities attempts to use antidemocratic methods to repress political opposition and considers them as an infringement on the principles of democracy and rule of law that constitute the fundamental values of the Council of Europe.

3. The Assembly notes the insufficient progress of democratic and legal reforms as well as the weakening of state power institutions in Georgia.

4. The Assembly calls upon the Georgian authorities to strictly respect the commitments taken upon accession to the Council of Europe and not to allow repression for political views.

Signed : ¹

Rogozin, Russia, EPP

Bakulin, Russia, UEL

Fedorov, Russia, EDG

Hovhannisyan, Armenia, EDG

Ivanov, Estonia, LDR

Khripel, Russia, SOC

Ragnarsdóttir, Iceland, EDG

Sharandin, Russia, EDG

Sudarenkov, Russia, SOC

Tevdoradze, Georgia, EDG

¹ SOC: Socialist Group

EPP: Group of the European People’s Party

EDG: European Democratic Group

LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

NR: not registered in a group