Saeima adopts statement on support for Georgian society's efforts towards Euro-integration

RIGA - Despite work on approving the 2025 budget project, MPs convened an extraordinary sitting on Thursday and adopted a statement of support for the Euro-integration aspirations and values of Georgian society.

82 MPs voted in favor of the statement, while ten Stability politicians voted against.

The draft decision was scheduled to be taken at the Thursday morning sitting, but in order to speed up work on next year's budget, the ordinary sitting of the Parliament was adjourned and it was decided to take the matter up on Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, the opposition United List and the National Alliance insisted that the statement should be adopted immediately, thus postponing the review process of next year's budget.

Opposition politicians requested three times for a recess in the extraordinary sitting of the Saeima to consider the issue.

Later, the United List called for an extraordinary sitting of the Parliament "to express, without hesitation, its clear and firm support for Georgian democracy at this crucial moment for the country and the people of Georgia".

In the statement of support for the Euro-integration aspirations and values of Georgian society, which has already been adopted by the Saeima, the parliament says that it defends the right of civil society to free and democratic expression and stresses that the freedoms of peaceful assembly, expression and association are fundamental rights on which a democratic society is based, and condemns the unwillingness of the Georgian authorities to ensure transparent and fair investigations into electoral irregularities.

The statement also says that the Saeima condemns the use of force against the population, supported by the ruling authorities in Georgia, which undermines public confidence in state institutions, and calls for an end to violence against peaceful protesters, the release of detained demonstrators, the prosecution of the officials responsible and for all contradictions to be resolved peacefully.

The Parliament's statement said that it supported sanctions against Georgian officials and politicians responsible for the use of violence against protesters.

In the statement, the politicians support the choice of the Georgian people in favour of Euro-Atlantic integration and confirm that the door of the European Union remains open to Georgia. Georgia's return to the path of European integration depends on the actions of the Georgian authorities and respect for the values of the European Union.