Georgian Parliament Speaker says PACE resolution on snap elections “absolutely unacceptable” to Gov’t

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said a resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that was adopted last week and called on Georgian authorities to hold snap parliamentary elections in the coming months was “absolutely unacceptable” to the country’s Government.

Papuashvili’s comment came after the Georgian delegation to the Assembly last Wednesday suspended its participation in the body over the resolution that stipulated the requirement as a precondition for ensuring continued credentials for the delegation.

I would like to touch upon the participation of the Georgian delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and thank the Georgian delegation for its work”, the Speaker said, adding the resolution was “regrettable”.

“It is important to highlight that the attempt to challenge the credentials of the Georgian parliamentary delegation and thereby cast doubt on the parliamentary elections [held in October] failed”, the lawmaker said.

This effort, supported by the opposition, certain NGOs, and some foreign political groups working in a coordinated manner against the Georgian people, was thwarted through the intensive work of our delegation. The delegation’s mandate was upheld; however, the resolution containing specific reservations is entirely unacceptable. We cannot operate under such conditions”, he noted.

The Speaker also called on PACE to “uphold its fundamental values”.

“It is important that the Parliamentary Assembly returns to its fundamental values, which are based on respect for democracy and the will of the people. If we do not respect each other's sovereignty and the will of the people expressed in elections, then it is difficult to talk about the principles of international cooperation on which the modern world is built”, he concluded.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Sunday reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to cooperation with the Council of Europe, including its Secretary General.