The News in Brief
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Prepared by Messenger Staff
Polish President Duda Expresses Support for Georgia's EU Aspirations Ahead of Parliamentary Elections
At a joint press conference with Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, Polish President Andrzej Duda emphasized Poland's support for Georgia's aspirations to join the European Union, as the country approaches its parliamentary elections on October 26, 2024.
"Everyone is impatiently waiting for the decision of the population of Georgia," Duda said, expressing the importance of the upcoming vote. He reiterated that Poland fully backs Georgia's desire to join the EU, but stressed that the country must have a government committed to meeting the necessary conditions for membership. "Georgia itself must have such a government that really wants and does everything to become a member of the European Union... state agencies of Georgia must be democratic," he added.
Duda also touched on concerns regarding the controversial "foreign agents" law, stating that EU politicians see such laws as limiting the role of NGOs and their democratic work. "It is obvious and perceived that political forces limit non-governmental organizations and their aspiration towards democracy," he said.
"I hope that the population of Georgia will express their opinion and confirm their vote in the upcoming elections," he concluded, thanking Zourabichvili for her visit to Warsaw and highlighting the importance of their ongoing cooperation.
PACE Expresses Concern Over Transparency International Georgia's Forced Halt in Election Monitoring
On October 1, PACE observers and the head of the observer mission expressed "deep concern" over Transparency International Georgia being forced to cease its election monitoring activities. This came after the Anti-Corruption Bureau labeled the organization and its Executive Director, Eka Gigauri, as entities with declared election objectives.
PACE co-rapporteurs said, "We are deeply concerned by the fact that Transparency International Georgia has been forced to close its election observation operations because of the deplorable decision by the Anti-Corruption Bureau."
The PACE representatives called on authorities to ensure the integrity of the election process and urged them to allow Transparency International Georgia, along with other respected election observation CSOs, to continue their work without interference.
Polish President Duda Expresses Support for Georgia's EU Aspirations Ahead of Parliamentary Elections
"Everyone is impatiently waiting for the decision of the population of Georgia," Duda said, expressing the importance of the upcoming vote. He reiterated that Poland fully backs Georgia's desire to join the EU, but stressed that the country must have a government committed to meeting the necessary conditions for membership. "Georgia itself must have such a government that really wants and does everything to become a member of the European Union... state agencies of Georgia must be democratic," he added.
Duda also touched on concerns regarding the controversial "foreign agents" law, stating that EU politicians see such laws as limiting the role of NGOs and their democratic work. "It is obvious and perceived that political forces limit non-governmental organizations and their aspiration towards democracy," he said.
"I hope that the population of Georgia will express their opinion and confirm their vote in the upcoming elections," he concluded, thanking Zourabichvili for her visit to Warsaw and highlighting the importance of their ongoing cooperation.
PACE Expresses Concern Over Transparency International Georgia's Forced Halt in Election Monitoring
PACE co-rapporteurs said, "We are deeply concerned by the fact that Transparency International Georgia has been forced to close its election observation operations because of the deplorable decision by the Anti-Corruption Bureau."
The PACE representatives called on authorities to ensure the integrity of the election process and urged them to allow Transparency International Georgia, along with other respected election observation CSOs, to continue their work without interference.