EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell has made his first comments regarding June 20 events and following rallies in Tbilisi, praising the offer of the Georgian Dream ruling party on elections and urged the investigation into rally dispersal in central Tbilisi last week.
We welcome the statement by the Georgian Dream leadership on initiating constitutional changes for holding fully proportional elections in 2020. This presents an opportunity for all stakeholders to come together to agree a way forward that strengthens parliamentary democracy and pluralism in Georgia. We expect a broad and consultative process and call on all sides to engage in good faith,” Harzell wrote.
He said that it is important for Georgia to address OSCE/ODIHR recommendations made during the previous elections “in a timely and inclusive manner”, in view of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
We welcome the commitment to investigate the events that unfolded during the night of 20 June, in line with calls made by the Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner and others, and look forward to a transparent and swift process with the involvement of the public defender,” Harzell said.
Rallies are continue in Tbilisi. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
He stated that demonstrations “must remain peaceful” and urged everyone to act lawfully.
As committed friends and partners of Georgia, we call on all sides to act in the country's best interest,” he said.