Politics
Council of Europe Summit creates register of damage for Ukraine as first step towards an international compensation mechanism for victims of Russian aggression
Council of Europe Summit creates register of damage for Ukraine as first step towards an international compensation mechanism for victims of Russian aggression Reykjavik, 17.05.2023 – This morning, Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland, Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland and President of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine, and Denis Malyuska, Minister of Justice of Ukraine, announced the establishment of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine through an Enlarged Partial Agreement. 43 countries and the European Union have joined or indicated their intention to join the Register set up by the participants to the Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe held in Reykjavik on 16-17 May 2023. (*) “Support and solidarity with Ukraine is one of the main priorities of the Icelandic Presidency and we have worked hard to ensure that the outcome of the Reykjavik Summit addresses the need for comprehensive accountability for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine,” said Katrín Jakobsdóttir. She emphasised that “the Council of Europe can and should play an important role in ensuring accountability. The Register is an important step towards accountability for crimes committed in Russia’s brutal war and a strong message of support to Ukraine.” Marija Pejčinović Burić said : “The decision to set up the Register of Damage under the auspices of the Council of Europe is an historic decision”. She said : “It will support victims in recording their losses and is vital for any compensation mechanism. Supported by a very large coalition of member and non-member states, and by the EU, it is one of the first legally binding decisions to hold Russia accountable for its acts.” The European Union, represented by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has provided a substantial contribution towards the startup costs. The Register will have its seat in The Hague (the Netherlands), with a satellite office in Ukraine and Mark Rutte underlined that “Russia must be held accountable, including for damage suffered by Ukraine and its people. We are therefore proud that the seat of the Register of Damage will be in The Hague, the legal capital of the world”. The Register is established for an initial period of three years and will serve as a record of evidence and claims information on damage, loss or injury caused by the Russian aggression against Ukraine. It paves the way towards a future international comprehensive compensation mechanism for the victims of the Russian aggression. Denys Shmyhal said that “Ukraine welcomes the establishment of the Register of Damage. We are grateful to the Council of Europe and all the participating states for such a high level of support. We invite other states, from all corners of the world, to join the Register of Damage as a sign of support for the important issue of Russia's accountability for its war against Ukraine. The Register is an important milestone on the road to justice and reparations for Ukraine and the Ukrainians who have suffered so much from this war. The hard work begins now - we need to ensure that the Register becomes operational soon, so that victims of Russian aggression could submit their claims. We also emphasise that the establishment of the Register is only the first step towards the establishment of a comprehensive compensation mechanism that will ensure that Russia pays full reparations to Ukraine in accordance with international law, including by means of its internationally located assets. We look forward to working with our partners on this important issue.” See Resolution on the Enlarged Partial Agreement ----------------- (*) Forty countries have joined the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Register set up within the Council of Europe : Albania, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and United Kingdom; as well as Canada, Japan and the USA. The European Union has also joined, while three other countries (Andorra, Bulgaria and Switzerland) have expressed their intention to join.
Peter Stano: The EU regrets the decision by Georgia to resume flights to and from Russia, this decision by Georgian authorities raises concerns
The EU regrets the decision by Georgia to resume flights to and from Russia, - EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano said at the press briefing. According to him, the latest decision by Georgian authorities raises concerns in terms of Georgia's EU path. „We regret Georgia’s decision to resume flights with Russia following Russia’s decision to lift the air travel ban last week. Due to the illegal Russian war against Ukraine, the EU and a number of other countries have sanctioned the Russian aviation, and do not allow flights from, to or over Russia. This step raises concerns in terms of Georgia’s EU path and its commitment to align with the EU in the foreign policy as per the EU-Georgia Association Agreement. Regrettably, Georgia’s alignment rate with EU CFSP decisions and declarations has gone from a low 44% last year to only 31% so far this year. Moreover, we recall that the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has raised significant concerns over the safety of Russian aircrafts“, - Peter Stano said. The EU membership is Georgia’s stated top foreign and security policy priority and more than 80% of the population support EU integration. Georgia is awaiting the EU decision on granting the EU candidate status at the end of the year. Georgia has Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and visa free travel with the EU. Also Read: EEAS Spokesperson says Georgia should not allow unsafe Russian aircrafts into its territory State Department: The people of Georgia would likely prefer the withdrawal of Russian troops rather than see direct flights restored or the visa regime changed State Department: We would be concerned if flights between Russia and Georgia resumed
Ambassador Degnan: Georgia does not have to rely and become dependent on Russia again
U.S. Ambassador Kelly Degnan responded to a question about Moscow’s decision to restore flights with Georgia and said that while it is not for the United States to say whether this will impact Georgia’s chances for the EU candidacy, “it does raise the question as to why Putin would give this to Georgia.” Ambassador Degnan noted that no one believes Putin cares about the convenience of Georgian travelers. Responding to the question on why in 2019 the U.S. Embassy had called for the restoration of air links with Russia, Ambassador Degnan said there is an important difference in the fact that Russia has invaded Ukraine in the meantime. „I would say an important difference between today and 2019 is the fact that Russia has invaded Ukraine. Again, Russia has destabilized the entire region with this unjustified, brutal war that is purely aimed at taking Ukrainian territory and trying to eliminate Ukraine’s identity. That is a significant change from before. Another important detail is that Georgia doesn’t rely on Russian tourism, and Russian business as much as it did in 2019. We saw after the ban was put into effect a surge in visitors from many other countries. Georgia does not have to rely and become dependent on Russia again. That is giving Russia dangerous leverage over your economy, and we have seen in many other countries how Russia will use that against your country when it wants to. Georgia does not need to fall into that trap again. On the sanctions, We need more information as to how the Georgian government is going to respond to this, what the details of these potential flights are going to be before we can establish whether there are export control or sanctions that apply to this situation, but I would imagine that there will be some“, - the US Ambassador to Georgia, Kelly Degnan said. Russia canceled the visa regime for Georgian citizens. The relevant decree was issued by the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. According to Putin's decree, the visa regime will be abolished from May 15. Vladimir Putin also lifted the ban on flights to Georgia for Russian airlines. State Department: We would be concerned if flights between Russia and Georgia resumed
State Department: The people of Georgia would likely prefer the withdrawal of Russian troops rather than see direct flights restored or the visa regime changed
In response to Vladimir Putin’s decision to restore direct flights to Georgia and lift the visa policy for Georgian citizens, the US State Department said that instead of all this, the Georgian people “would probably prefer that Putin withdraw Russian troops from 20 percent of the Russian-occupied territory of Georgia” . „Many Western countries, including the U.S. prohibit, Russian aircraft from entering their airspace. If direct flights between Russia and Georgia resume, we of course would be concerned that companies at Georgian airports could be at risk for sanctions if they service aircraft subject to import and export controls. The entire Western community has distanced itself from the Russian regime, and now is not the time for any country to increase its engagement with Russia. The people of Georgia would likely prefer that President Putin withdraw Russian troops from the 20 percent of Georgian territory that Russia occupies, rather than see direct flights restored or the visa regime changed“, - the State Department said. Russia canceled the visa regime for Georgian citizens. The relevant decree was issued by the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. According to Putin's decree, the visa regime will be abolished from May 15. Vladimir Putin also lifted the ban on flights to Georgia for Russian airlines. State Department: We would be concerned if flights between Russia and Georgia resumed
EEAS Spokesperson says Georgia should not allow unsafe Russian aircrafts into its territory
The EU encourages Georgia, aspiring to become EU candidate country, to align with the EU and other countries in their sanctions against Russia also in the aviation sector, and to remain vigilant regarding any possible attempt to circumvent them. Peter Stano, lead spokesperson for the foreign affairs and security policy of the European Union, said that due to the illegal Russian aggression against Ukraine, the EU and a number of other countries sanctioned Russian aviation and do not allow flights from, to, or over Russia. „We took note of the decision by the Russian authorities to lift the air travel ban with Georgia. Due to the illegal Russian aggression against Ukraine, the EU and a number of other countries sanctioned the Russian aviation, and does not allow flights from, to or over Russia. The EU encourages Georgia, aspiring to become EU candidate country, to align with the EU and other countries in their sanctions against Russia also in the aviation sector, and to remain vigilant regarding any possible attempt to circumvent them. Moreover, in light of the significant safety concerns notified to Russia by the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Georgia should not allow unsafe Russian aircrafts into its territory. Due to EU sanctions, 95% of the Russian airplane fleet is not able to update and upgrade their airplanes, which is essential to maintain the necessary international technical and safety standards“, - Peter Stano said.
The United States and Georgia mutually decided to focus resources on in-country, multi-national exercises, the U.S. embassy says
The United States Embassy released a statement on military cooperation with Georgia in 2023. According to the statement, the United States remains committed to enhancing the U.S-Georgia strategic partnership, working together to make both Georgia and America safer and more secure. „In 2023 the United States and Georgia continue to do more across a broad range of cooperative military activities. This year, the United States and Georgia are jointly focused on maximizing beneficial training opportunities to enhance Georgia’s critical capabilities. As part of that effort, we mutually decided to focus resources on in-country, multi-national exercises – Agile Spirit and Noble Partner – and build on their previous success to most effectively strengthen Georgia’s interoperability and its capacity for resilience and defense," reads the statement.
NATO and Georgia strengthen scientific cooperation to tackle new security challenges
NATO and Georgia reaffirmed the importance of their long-standing scientific cooperation at an Information Day in Tbilisi on Wednesday (3 May 2023). The event was organized with support from Georgia’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Education and Science, and brought together over fifty participants from public and not-for profit research institutions. The event highlighted recent activities carried out through NATO’s Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme, including research on resilience and the protection of infrastructure from geological hazards and underground explosions. "We are glad to showcase the SPS Programme in Tbilisi. I hope that this Information Day will enable greater participation of Georgia in research activities relevant to our shared security challenges and priorities," said James Appathurai, NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges. Georgian scientists have been engaged with NATO’s Science for Peace and Security Programme since 1994 on a broad range of themes, including environmental and energy security; counter-terrorism; cyber defence; defence against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) agents; and Women, Peace and Security. Through the recent launch of a new call for proposals, the SPS Programme is providing an opportunity for scientists in Georgia, as well as other NATO partner countries, to develop innovative security-related scientific initiatives in cooperation with their counterparts from NATO countries.
Secretary General: Georgia is one of NATO’s closest partners
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili at NATO Headquarters on Tuesday (25 April 2023) for talks about strengthening the NATO-Georgia partnership. Calling Georgia “one of NATO’s closest partners”, the Secretary General stressed that “Allies fully support Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” He further noted that Georgia “can count on NATO’s continued political and practical support. In turn, I count on Georgia to redouble efforts on domestic reforms, and uphold democratic standards.” Speaking about Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Mr Stoltenberg warned: “We do not know when the war will end. But we know that Russian aggression is a toxic pattern that must be stopped once and for all.” He added: “Ukraine is upholding its right to self-defence under the UN Charter, and we expect all NATO partners to support this aim.”
State Department: The United States supports Anaklia deep water port development, done in a way that is in the best interests of Georgia
According to a State Department spokesperson, the United States supports Anaklia deep water port development, done in a way that is in the best interests of Georgia, and that protects Georgia’s critical infrastructure. Port development has the potential to provide a significant contribution to Georgia’s economy and orientation to the Black Sea, - a State Department spokesperson told Europetime. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili revealed on 12 December that the long-awaited deep sea port of Anaklia will be built with the government’s participation, which will subsequently own 51% of it. The Prime Minister noted that an international competition will be announced to select the partners and companies which will participate in the project. „we strongly support the development of the Anaklia deep water port, which is critical infrastructure for Georgia to develop. It would be a huge contribution as Georgia develops its role in the Middle Corridor, to bring goods from Central Asia to Europe. Development of the port would also bring jobs to Georgia and the region. We hope to see the Government of Georgia move forward to tender the project and select a qualified developer through a transparent and competitive process“, - US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan told Europetime. In addition, NATO welcomes the development of infrastructure of strategic importance, such as the port facilities on the Black Sea coast. „We welcome all steps undertaken by the Georgian authorities to promote its economic development and security. According to a NATO official speaking to Europetime, this includes the development of infrastructure of strategic importance, such as the port facilities on the Black Sea coast. "The Anaklia Deep Sea Port is a great opportunity," said Philip Reeker, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, during a visit to Georgia in June 2021. Senator Rob Portman also stressed that it is extremely important that more countries invest in Georgia. „We should encourage more direct investment in Georgia. One would be infrastructure, specifically a particular port project, which is a huge opportunity for infrastructure investment. But also, there are so many other opportunities in agriculture and other commodities, including mining, including manufacturing,"-Senator Rob Portman said in an exclusive comment with Europetime. The construction of what should have been the country’s first deep sea port began in the village of Anaklia close to the de facto boundary with Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region in 2017. While the government previously was ready to invest $100 million, control was to be held by private investors.The Georgian government canceled the $2.5 billion contract with Anaklia Development Consortium, the main contractor, in early 2020, alleging it had failed to attract sufficient investments while placing heavy and unrealistic demands on the state to underwrite huge loans from international financial institutions.
State Department: The United States stands with the government and people of Georgia in their efforts to advance transparency, fight corruption, and further democratic governance
According to a State Department spokesperson, the 7031c actions send a strong signal that the United States stands with the government and people of Georgia in their efforts to advance transparency, fight corruption, and further democratic governance. As a general matter, we do not comment on pending litigation. The 7031c actions send a strong signal that the United States stands with the government and people of Georgia in their efforts to advance transparency, fight corruption, and further democratic governance. We are committed to helping Georgia realize its full economic and democratic potential on its path to Euro Atlantic integration, by tackling endemic corruption and fostering an impartial and independent judiciary“, - a State Department spokesperson told Europetime. Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia, and Valerian Tsertsvadze under Section 7031(c) visa restriction authorities, due to their involvement in significant corruption. Section 7031(c) provides that officials of foreign governments about whom the Secretary of State has credible information of involvement in significant corruption or a gross violation of human rights and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States. The law also requires the Secretary of State to publicly or privately designate such officials and their immediate family members. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has released a statement on public designations of Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia and Valerian Tsertsvadze. According to the statement, the above individuals abused their positions. “Today, the U.S. Department of State is publicly designating Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia, and Valerian Tsertsvadze under Section 7031(c) visa restriction authorities, due to their involvement in significant corruption. These individuals abused their positions as court Chairmen and members of Georgia’s High Council of Justice, undermining the rule of law and the public’s faith in Georgia’s judicial system. The United States continues to stand with all Georgians in support of democracy and the rule of law and will continue to promote accountability for those who abuse public power for personal gain. We stand with all judges who have the integrity and courage to act impartially and independently. Officials designated under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2023 (Div. K, P.L. 117-328) (“Section 7031(c)”) and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States”, reads the statement.
State Department on the designation of judge: These persons have been involved in significant corruption - we have very reliable information
We have reliable information, including from open sources, that these judges have been involved in significant corruption, US State Department Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel stated at a briefing. „First, from the very beginning, the American people have stood in solidarity with the people of Georgia and their desire to be a free and sovereign country within its internationally recognized borders. And over the last 30 years, we have become strategic partners working toward our shared vision of Georgia – fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic family of nations and part of Europe, whole, free, and at peace. Specifically, on the designations that we announced yesterday, we have credible information that these individuals were involved in significant corruption related to their current and former judicial positions. This corruption undermined the rule of law in Georgia. It undermined Georgia’s democratic processes. It damaged the public’s faith in Georgia’s democratic institutions and officials. As we’ve previously said, information is gathered from a variety of sources, including open source, and we have very credible information to believe that there was significant involvement in this corruption“, Said Vedant Patel. The U.S. will continue to have a number of tools at its disposal to hold these kinds of individuals accountable.
FM Ilia Darchiashvili addresses Antony Blinken with a letter
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilia Darchiashvili, addresses the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken with a letter. Ilia Darchiashvili points out, that the decision of the US State Department on sanctioning judges, which was made public without presenting any evidence, is completely incomprehensible and unacceptable. "On behalf of the Georgian people and the Government of Georgia, we confirm our deep respect and commitment to the strategic partnership between Georgia and the United States of America. As we learned, the US State Department made a decision regarding the sanctioning of three active and one former judge of the independent Georgian judicial system. First of all, I would like to remind you of the most difficult legacy that Georgian Dream had to face in the judicial system in 2012, when it came to power. The reality was the worst: the court was turned into a division of the prosecutor's office and another link in the repressive machine of the authoritarian regime, the rate of guilty verdicts exceeded 99 percent, 300,000 citizens were tried, elite corruption included both the court and other areas, the government committed systemic crimes. Under the conditions of an unjust and repressive judicial system, the number of prisoners reached 25 thousand in prisons, where the systematic practice of torture and inhuman treatment of prisoners was introduced. As a result, the death rate of prisoners was unprecedentedly high. After Georgian Dream came to power, the number of prisoners decreased by 2.5 times, and the death rate decreased by 10 times. In addition, after Georgian Dream came to power, the rate of pre-trial detention by the courts decreased three times, the rate of administrative detention decreased three times, the rate of approval of requests for investigative actions was halved, the rate of bail decreased twenty times, the rate of fines decreased five times, etc. Under the conditions of the previous government and its judicial system, the Georgian people could not find justice in Georgia and were forced to turn to the European Court of Human Rights. In 2004-2012, 5416 complaints of Georgian citizens were submitted to the Strasbourg court. For comparison, in 2013-2022, this figure was only 1132. In 2009-2012, the European Court considered about 4,000 complaints filed against Georgia. According to the data of 2023, only 147 complaints filed against Georgia are considered in the Strasbourg Court, which is the best indicator of Georgia during its membership in the Council of Europe. It should be noted that during the period of the previous government, the main creators and architects of the court's criminal system - Mikheil Saakashvili and Zurab Adeishvili were not sanctioned by any country, and moreover, unfortunately, they enjoyed specific guarantees of inviolability or still enjoy it. The sharp decrease in appeals in the Strasbourg court, as well as the above statistics, is a clear proof that the systemic problems in the judicial system have been eliminated after 2012, which is the result of the relevant political will and the four waves of fundamental judicial reform carried out by the Georgian Dream government. Citizens of Georgia can effectively protect their rights within the country today. The justice system has become effective and today it provides an effective opportunity to protect rights. The government has repeatedly appealed to critics of Georgia's current judicial system to present specific court cases that, in their opinion, were decided unfairly. However, critics have so far failed to present any such case. A clear example of the bias of critics of the judicial system is the decision of the Strasbourg court regarding the case of "Rustavi 2" TV station. The decision proves that, on the contrary, pressure was exerted on the court by Nika Gvaramia, the general director of "Rustavi 2" at that time. In the decision, it is mentioned that "groundless media attacks made by the General Director of Rustavi 2" against the judge of the case can be considered as an inappropriate attempt to influence the judge's decision, and the said attacks, in general, can contribute to undermining the authority of the judiciary." We would like to remind you that representatives of opposition parties and non-governmental organizations, media outlets owned by the opposition, former president, former public defender, as well as individual representatives of the diplomatic corps were actively involved in the attempt to damage the reputation of the court in connection with the "Rustavi 2" case. The Georgian court is perceived by the population and international studies as one of the most advanced. According to the "IPSOS FRANCE" survey ("Assessment of Judicial Reforms in Georgia"), 55% of the population of Georgia think that the court is fair, 52% think that the court is reliable and 51% think that the court is independent. As a result of the government's ten-year work and reforms, Georgia ranks high in international rankings. In the 2022 index of the rule of law of the "World Justice Project", Georgia ranks first in the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. According to the Corruption Perceptions Index of 2022, Georgia is the leader in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region, for the first time in the history of the index, it is in the top 20 in Europe and ahead of 11 EU member states. At the same time, work on judicial reform continues with the Venice Commission to further strengthen the independence and transparency of the judiciary and to make the legislation even more complete. Therefore, taking into account this reality, the decision of the US State Department to sanction judges, which was made public without presenting any evidence, is completely incomprehensible and unacceptable. We hope that the State Department will provide relevant evidence or reconsider its decision. Otherwise, the state of Georgia and the Georgian people perceive this as pressure on the independent court of the sovereign state and gross interference in its activities, which will damage the long-term friendly relations between Georgia and the USA," the Minister wrote.
EEAS Spokesperson on US Sanctions against four Georgian Judges
Peter Stano, the spokesperson for the external affairs of the European Union, said on Thursday that the European Union has its own legislative framework for adopting sanctions that are always discussed and agreed upon by all 27 member states of the EU in consensus. „There is currently no EU sanctions regime in place for Georgia, and no sanctions decisions have been made related to the people mentioned below in the US sanctions" he told Europetime. „There is currently no EU sanctions regime in place for Georgia, and no sanctions decisions have been made related to the people mentioned below in the US sanctions. As a general rule, we do not comment on sanctions decisions by others, the EU has its own legislative framework for adopting sanctions that are always discussed and agreed upon by all 27 Member States of the EU in consensus“, - Peter Stano said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has released a statement on public designations of Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia and Valerian Tsertsvadze. According to the statement, the above individuals abused their positions. “Today, the U.S. Department of State is publicly designating Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia, and Valerian Tsertsvadze under Section 7031(c) visa restriction authorities, due to their involvement in significant corruption. These individuals abused their positions as court Chairmen and members of Georgia’s High Council of Justice, undermining the rule of law and the public’s faith in Georgia’s judicial system. The United States continues to stand with all Georgians in support of democracy and the rule of law and will continue to promote accountability for those who abuse public power for personal gain. We stand with all judges who have the integrity and courage to act impartially and independently. Officials designated under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2023 (Div. K, P.L. 117-328) (“Section 7031(c)”) and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States”, reads the statement.
US Department of State Sanctions Four Georgian Judges for “Significant” Corruption
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has released a statement on public designations of Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia and Valerian Tsertsvadze. According to the statement, the above individuals abused their positions. “Today, the U.S. Department of State is publicly designating Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia, and Valerian Tsertsvadze under Section 7031(c) visa restriction authorities, due to their involvement in significant corruption. These individuals abused their positions as court Chairmen and members of Georgia’s High Council of Justice, undermining the rule of law and the public’s faith in Georgia’s judicial system. The United States continues to stand with all Georgians in support of democracy and the rule of law and will continue to promote accountability for those who abuse public power for personal gain. We stand with all judges who have the integrity and courage to act impartially and independently. Officials designated under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2023 (Div. K, P.L. 117-328) (“Section 7031(c)”) and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States”, reads the statement.
NATO Allies reaffirm support to Georgia and stress importance of continuing reforms
The NATO Georgia-Commission met on Thursday (23 March 2023), with the participation by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Ilia Darchiashvili. According to the NATO press service, NATO Allies reiterated their continued support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognized borders. They reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Black Sea region for the Alliance, as highlighted in NATO’s Strategic Concept. They also welcomed Georgia’s long-standing contributions to Euro-Atlantic security and underlined the importance attached to the partnership between NATO and Georgia, through political dialogue and practical cooperation on a wide range of areas, within the enhanced Substantial NATO-Georgia Package. The meeting provided an opportunity “to review the role and significance of our partnership with Georgia following a turbulent year, where the very premises of the European security architecture are being challenged in word and deed by Russia, to exchange views on the direction and pace of Georgia’s reform efforts – within the context of the country’s Annual National Programme – and to address regional security issues,” NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană said. NATO Allies took note of the steps undertaken by Georgia with respect to its ambitious reform programme, including the recent withdrawal of the “foreign agents” law. They urged the Georgian authorities to implement in full the agreed reforms, to uphold the rule of law and fundamental human rights, and to overcome the continued challenge posed by domestic political polarisation. Allies stressed that these steps are key to safeguard the well-being of all citizens of Georgia, to bolster the country’s resilience and security, and to boost the process of Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom arrives in Georgia
James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, is in Georgia. During the visit, James Cleverly will meet his Georgian counterpart, Ilia Darchiashvili, and the head of the Georgian Government, Irakli Gharibashvili. In addition, he will visit the occupation line. "I look forward to the visit of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, James Cleverley, here in Georgia. It is a great honor and privilege. This visit of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom to Georgia is the first since 2016. We have a short but very busy program. I thank each person from the Georgian side who was involved in the process of the implementation of this visit," British Ambassador Mark Clayton said. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, he was met by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Teimuraz Janjalia, at Tbilisi International Airport. The parties talked about the meetings and events scheduled within the framework of the two-day visit.
US Embassy: Today is a dark day for Georgia’s democracy
Today is a dark day for Georgia’s democracy," US Embassy to Georgia says in a statement. "Parliament’s advancing of these Kremlin-inspired laws is incompatible with the people of Georgia’s clear desire for European integration and its democratic development. Pursuing these laws will damage Georgia’s relations with its strategic partners and undermine the important work of so many Georgian organizations working to help their fellow citizens. The process and the draft laws raise real questions about the ruling party’s commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration," the statement reads.
US Assistant Secretary of State on foreign agents draft law: Obviously, this is a law based on Russia's interest, not Georgia's interest
„Obviously, this is a law based on Russia's interest, not Georgia's interest. And we think it's in Georgia's interest to work more closely towards Euro-Atlantic integration. This law doesn't do that. We don't think it's the right thing for Georgia“, said US Assistant Secretary of State Todd Robinson. According to him, the adoption of the said bill is not right for Georgia. „Obviously, this is a law based on Russia's interest, not Georgia's interest. And we think it's in Georgia's interest to work more closely towards Euro-Atlantic integration. This law doesn't do that. We don't think it's the right thing for Georgia. More importantly, Georgians don't think it's the right thing for Georgia. And we will keep working with our partners in the government of Georgia to make sure that we're working towards what is their priority, which is Euro Atlantic integration“ - said Todd Robinson.
Commissioner urges the Georgian Parliament to reject the draft law “On transparency of foreign influence”
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia published today, Commissioner Mijatović expresses concerns that the adoption of the draft law “On transparency of foreign influence” may have a serious chilling effect on the work of civil society organisations in Georgia. “Such a legislative initiative raises a number of human rights concerns in the light of the Council of Europe standards on freedom of association and of expression. While transparency may be a legitimate concern, it should not be achieved to the detriment of the effective enjoyment of rights and freedoms by non-commercial organisations and media outlets and of the exercise of their legitimate activities”, says the Commissioner. In this context, the Commissioner calls on the Parliament to reject this or any similar draft law and to unequivocally commit itself to fostering a diverse and vibrant civic participation in public affairs, as well as a conducive environment for the functioning of civil society organisations and human rights defenders in Georgia. „I am writing to you in connection with the draft law “On transparency of foreign influence” (N 07- 3/293/10, registered on 14 February 2023). If adopted, the law would provide for the registration of non- commercial legal entities and media outlets as “agents of foreign influence” if they receive some of their funding from abroad. The draft law appears to set a separate legal regime for such entities, subjecting them to additional reporting requirements, inspections and sanctions. I am concerned that such a legislative initiative presents a number of human rights issues in the light of the Council of Europe standards in the field of freedom of association and expression. In addition it could have a serious chilling effect on the work of civil society organisations active in the field of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Georgia and I therefore call on the Parliament to reject this or any similar draft laws. While transparency may represent a legitimate concern, it should not be achieved to the detriment of the effective enjoyment by non-commercial organisations and media outlets of their rights and freedoms and of the exercise of their legitimate activities. Reporting requirements should be set up on an equal and non-biased basis regardless of the sources of income. Any interference in this field must respect the principles of necessity and proportionality as established by the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights. I would also like to draw your attention to the Committee of Minister’s Recommendation on the legal status of non-governmental organisations in Europe, establishing the right of NGOs to solicit and receive funding, including from foreign sources, for the exercise of their legitimate activities. Against this background, I am concerned about the compatibility of the draft law “On transparency of foreign influence” with applicable human rights standards. I would like to underline in this context that the European Court of Human Rights has found a violation of Article 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights in connection with the legislation of the Russian Federation on so-called “foreign agents”. In particular, the Court established that creating a special status and a legal regime for the organisations receiving foreign funding was not justified and that such initiatives placed a significant chilling effect on NGOs and their ability to perform their legitimate civil society functions. I therefore encourage the members of the Parliament to unequivocally commit to fostering a diverse and vibrant civic participation in public affairs and a conducive environment for the functioning of civil society organisations and human rights defenders in Georgia. I would be grateful if you could ensure that all members of the Parliament receive a copy of this letter and I stand ready to discuss these matters further with you in the framework of my constructive dialogue with Georgian authorities“, - the letter reads.
The UN is deeply concerned that the adoption of the draft Law on Foreign Influence Transparency would risk impeding the work of civil society and media
The United Nations in Georgia expresses profound concern that adoption of the draft Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence would risk impeding the work of civil society and media and the essential contributions they make to Georgian democracy. The UN urges the Georgian authorities to take all the necessary steps to avoid measures that risk having a chilling effect on Georgian democracy and on the vibrancy and quality of development support to Georgia. „Civil society organizations in Georgia have been at the forefront of delivering essential services to the most vulnerable persons and helping to protect their human rights. Stigmatizing their work risks leaving persons with disabilities, internally displaced, minorities, older persons, women, youth and children, survivors of domestic violence and other people in need without effective assistance and support. The draft law poses risks to full respect of freedoms of association and expression, the right to participate in public affairs, the right to privacy and prohibition of discrimination. Noting Georgia’s current membership of the UN Human Rights Council, we encourage the Parliament of Georgia to seek legal opinions of competent regional and international bodies, to consider opinions of these bodies on similar legislation, and to conduct broad, inclusive and meaningful consultations with a wide range of stakeholders that could potentially be affected by the adoption of this draft law. If adopted, such a law is likely to impede the work of the UN to implement the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, the country strategy that we have co-signed with the Government of Georgia. The UN has been a trusted partner of Georgia for over three decades, supporting the country’s development in line with Georgia’s own national priorities and assisting the people of Georgia together with all our local partners, including civil society and media. We urge the Georgian authorities to take all the necessary steps to avoid measures that risk having a chilling effect on Georgian democracy and on the vibrancy and quality of development support to Georgia“, - the statement reads.
