Against this backdrop of political turbulence, the Georgian Dream government announced it would present an application for EU membership in 2024. Just when it was undermining core democratic norms, the party raised the stakes in its long quest to get the EU to offer a membership perspective. Most in the EU saw the timing of this move as unfortunate. The announcement seemed lacking in seriousness and did little to improve the government’s standing in Brussels. For several years Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine have been working together to push the EU to grant an “upgraded” status within the EaP. Now Georgia has broken ranks, and the lack of partners on this defiant path is likely to weaken its already slim chances of attaining a membership perspective.
EU posts bail for release of Georgian opposition leader Nika Melia
Share
The EU has posted a bond of 40,000 lari [approximately $12,000] for one of the leaders of the Georgian opposition, Nika Melia, to be released. The court is expected to make a decision on May 10.
“The pledge was made after political parties in Georgia reached an agreement on April 19 through the mediation of the European Council. We sincerely thank two independent organizations that agreed to provide financial support in this process: the European Endowment for Democracy, which provided funds, and the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA),” the EU said in a statement.
Georgiaâs road ahead: Time for the EU to show some tough love
Date:Â 30/04/2021
While an EU-brokered deal ended Georgiaâs political crisis, the countryâs political polarisation risks impeding its full implementation. It is high time to end the squabbling, put the country first and deliver what Georgian citizens deserve.
The EU-brokered deal reached on 19 April ended Georgiaâs months-long domestic political standoff. Opposition party members agreed to take their mandated seats in the parliament, which now has a constitutional majority to vote on an amnesty bill and address other political issues. At a time when the EU is short on positive foreign policy stories, this marks an important success.
Flags of Georgia and Moldova. Author: Borka Kiss / Shutterstock
A political crisis is only over when the underlying issues causing it have been resolved. Does this logic apply to recent events in Georgia and Moldova? Currently, there is no straightforward answer. Certainly, the latest developments in Georgia and Moldova allow for some cautious optimism. There have been huge improvements in both countries regarding their recent crises. However, only one of these nations seems to be truly approaching the end of its problems.
The positive political changes that occurred in April have happened for different reasons in each of the two cases. In Georgia, the European Union successfully oversaw negotiations between the ruling Georgian Dream party and various segments of the opposition, which signed a very ambitious deal after weeks of disagreement. This outcome is primarily the result of high-ranking EU politicians’ perseverance and their ability to persuade the main political forces.
President pardons co-founder of Mtavari TV Rurua as opposition enters parliament
President Salome Zurabishvili promised to pardon the co-founder of the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua on April 19. Photo: president’s press office. Agenda.ge, 27 Apr 2021 - 18:29, Tbilisi,Georgia
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has pardoned the co-founder of the opposition-minded Mtavari Arkhi TV channel Giorgi Rurua shortly after opposition MPs took up their mandates earlier today, in line with the EU-mediated agreement.
Zurabishvili wrote on her Facebook page that she ‘kept her promise’ and pardoned Rurua to support the implementation process of the EU-mediated agreement which was signed by the ruling Georgian Dream party and majority of opposition parties on April 19 to resolve the political tension in the country which began after the 2020 parliamentary elections.