Brussels (Brussels Morning) – European Parliament members petition the EU High Representative to impose targeted sanctions on Georgian officials leading the nation away from its European future and demanding immediate action in response to recent developments.
Are MEPs Urging Sanctions Against Georgian Officials?
Today, four Members of the European Parliament penned a letter to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, requesting him to prepare “targeted sanctions against those in Georgia who are leading the country away from its European future.”
Signatories of the letter include MEP Thijs Reuten, MEP Viola von Cramon-Taubadel, MEP Petras Auštrevičius, and MEP Miriam Lexmann. They also requested whether the HR/VP plans to press for the European Union to suspend all high-level engagement with the Georgian government and to call the Georgian Ambassador to express the EU’s condemnation if the law is passed.
Did the MEPs ask EU’s Action Against Georgia’s Proposed Foreign Agents Law?
The Members of the European Parliament asked High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Borrell whether, in view of the events that took place during the dispersal of the May 12-13 rally and the expected quick adoption of the Foreign Agents Law by the Georgian Dream Party, he will offer immediate targeted restrictive efforts against GD Honorary Chairman Ivanishvili, Prime Minister Kobakhidze, and Parliament Speaker Papuashvili, as well as against any MPs who vote in favour of the bill, and of overriding a potential veto of the bill by the President of Georgia, to take effect instantly upon the final binding vote.
They also question whether the HR/VP and the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement will demand the EEAS and DG NEAR to suspend any high-level engagement with the Georgian government that does not desire to repeal the law, “including by redirecting financial assistance to maintain Georgia’s civil society, and to refrain from spreading EU accession negotiations as long as the law is in force”.
What did MEPs demand over Ambassador from Georgia?
Finally, they request whether the HR/VP will devote to “summoning, upon adoption of the law, the Ambassador of Georgia to the EU in order to represent the EU’s condemnation” and convey his intention to take the overhead measures, as well as whether will recalling the EU Ambassador for consultations be considered.
What Occurred on May 12?
At 22:00 on May 12, protesters assembled again at Rustaveli Avenue to hold an all-night sit-in at the Parliament of Georgia as the ruling Georgian Dream party intends to push through the Foreign Agents law in its third Committee hearing on May 13, despite the exceptional domestic and international pressure.
The protesters were planning to stay, in spite of the rainy and windy weather, through the night and till the morning when the ruling party MPs are anticipated to arrive for the Committee hearing scheduled for 9 AM. At around 6 a.m., the police initiated a heavy mobilization near the Parliament with water cannons, completely disassembling the peaceful demonstrators from the entrances of the parliament building.
