Tbilisi to Euronest: Cease Undermining Georgia's Democratic Decisions

Levan Makhashvili, Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, has sent an open letter to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, expressing strong concerns about the Assembly’s recent actions and its approach toward Georgia.

Makhashvili says the conduct of the Euronest PA has increasingly deviated from the principles laid out in its Founding Act and the Joint Declaration of the Prague Summit of the Eastern Partnership. He argued that the multilateral dialogue once central to the platform has “regrettably become a thing of the past,” The Caspian Post reports citing Georgia Today.

In the letter, Makhashvili criticized what he described as “hostile rhetoric” from certain Members of the European Parliament toward Georgia, asserting that their remarks contradict the platform’s principles of partnership and mutual respect. He claimed some MEPs have issued distorted statements in support of political figures in Georgia who are facing criminal charges, disregarding both factual evidence and the democratic will of the Georgian electorate.

He further noted that Georgian society has witnessed MEPs participating in protest rallies outside the Georgian Parliament, which he said exceeds the limits of parliamentary diplomacy. Makhashvili argued that statements and social media activity by these MEPs have encouraged “public unrest, radicalization and violence,” while EU institutional reports continue to neglect Georgia’s democratic choices.

The letter also criticizes the Euronest PA for inviting individuals labeled as civil society representatives who, according to Makhashvili, were involved in actions aimed at rejecting election results, undermining democratic institutions, and supporting an attempted overthrow of the government. Granting such actors a platform, he stated, “normalizes and even encourages anti-democratic behavior” and risks legitimizing radical agendas.

Makhashvili pointed to the limited participation of partner countries in the Euronest PA as a warning sign, claiming it reflects deeper issues within the Assembly’s current approach. He argued that an “over-politicized” stance undermines the credibility of both the institution and broader EU-partnership efforts in the region.

Against this backdrop, the Georgian Parliament’s delegation chose not to attend the 12th Ordinary Session of the Euronest PA in Yerevan. Makhashvili concluded by calling on Euronest leadership to re-evaluate its direction and recommit to foundational principles, asserting that only through “reflection and renewal” can the Assembly remain a credible platform for Eastern Partnership cooperation.