EU Parliament Adopts Resolution Against Georgian Dream’s Efforts to Ban Opposition Parties
The European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for the “immediate withdrawal” of the Georgian Dream’s constitutional lawsuit seeking to ban opposition parties and reiterating calls for the release of what it describes as “political prisoners,” as well as for “targeted sanctions” against key Georgian Dream figures.
The resolution, titled “Attempts by the ruling party Georgian Dream to ban opposition parties in Georgia” and adopted on October 8 with 445 in favor, names Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze as those who should be subject to targeted sanctions and visa bans.
The document notes that in November 2025, “the Georgian Dream-controlled Parliament” lodged a constitutional claim seeking to ban opposition parties, including the United National Movement, Coalition for Change, and Strong Georgia – Lelo. The Federalists party was added to the lawsuit in April, while For Georgia, described in the resolution as the only opposition party still represented in Parliament, was added in September 2026.
The resolution says the proceedings amount to “eliminating legitimate political opposition” and are part of a broader strategy aimed at “turning Georgia into a one-party regime by eliminating political pluralism.” It says this follows the model of Russia and Belarus and “serves the Kremlin’s objective of keeping Georgia outside the European and Euro-Atlantic space.”
It says the situation in Georgia “is progressively deteriorating, with further backsliding in democracy, media freedom, human rights and the rule of law due to the Georgian Dream authorities’ actions,” which, according to the resolution, are increasingly “incompatible with Georgia’s international obligations and commitments,” including the Copenhagen criteria.
The European Parliament also notes that new judges were appointed to the Constitutional Court in September, saying the appointments raise “serious doubts about their independence in the proceedings.”
- 23/09/2026 – Two New Constitutional Court Judges Appointed As Critics Fear ‘No More Dissenting Opinions’
The resolution says that “numerous journalists reporting on the government’s crackdown on opposition and civil society have been imprisoned.” It also cites the closure of the Tbilisi offices of two German foundations, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, which it says were “forced to close their Tbilisi offices in September” after authorities rejected their project funding applications under the Law on Grants.
It “strongly condemns” the attempt to “outlaw Georgia’s opposition parties” and demands the “immediate withdrawal” of the constitutional claim. It stresses that “a functioning political opposition is an indispensable pillar of democracy and that eliminating legitimate political opposition through judicial means is incompatible with democracy.”
The resolution also notes that banning the sole opposition party represented in the Georgian Parliament would “dismantle the regime’s previous narrative of only targeting ‘boycotting’ parties.”
The EP calls for the “immediate and unconditional release” of people it describes as political prisoners, including Elene Khoshtaria, Mzia Amaghlobeli, Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Baramidze, and Nika Melia, as well as “all those detained for peaceful protest.”
It also calls for “dropping politically motivated ‘sabotage’ charges” and for the repeal of provisions enabling “disproportionate restrictions on parties and individuals associated with prohibited parties.”
The resolution condemns “the misuse of legislation and state institutions to silence political opponents” and calls for an end to what it describes as the “obstruction of European political foundations.”
The resolution “regrets” what it describes as “the persistent lack of action by the EU and most Member States to ensure tangible consequences for the continuously deteriorating situation in Georgia.”
It reiterates its call for “targeted sanctions against and visa bans for those responsible for democratic backsliding, violent repression and political persecution, first and foremost Bidzina Ivanishvili, Irakli Kobakhidze, Shalva Papuashvili and Kakha Kaladze.”
The EP also reiterates “its unwavering support for the Georgian people’s European aspirations” and recalls its previous warnings that “any attempt to ban established political parties alienates Georgia from the EU and precludes any move towards EU accession.”
The resolution instructs the European Parliament President to forward it to the EU Council, European Commission, High Representative/Vice-President, EU Member States and “the self-appointed authorities of Georgia.”
Preceding Debate
October 8 resolution was preceded by a plenary debate on the issue on October 7. The debate included Swedish Commissioner Jessika Roswall, as well as MEPs from different political groups.
Below are the key highlights from the debate:
- Jessika Roswall, EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
“Under Georgian Dream, Georgia continues to drift away from democratic norms and the European path chosen by its people. What we are witnessing is a systematic attack on democratic institutions, fundamental rights, political pluralism, and the rule of law. The recent Constitutional Court lawsuit brought by the Georgian Dream parliamentarians to ban opposition parties ahead of the 2028 election is a part of this pattern. Such actions strike at the heart of democracy and they undermine Georgia’s EU accession.
[…] Instead of advancing reforms and moving closer to the European Union, the Georgian authorities have taken actions that undermine the rule of law and shrink civic space. They continue anti-EU rhetoric and disinformation aiming to undermine the credibility of the EU among Georgian citizens.
[…] The European Union calls on the Georgian Dream party to reverse its detrimental actions, amend anti-democratic legislation, and release all arbitrarily detained opposition members. We urge the government to engage in meaningful dialogue with all political stakeholders to restore trust. Our door is open for constructive dialogue with Georgia based on mutual respect to find a way out of the current deadlock in our relations. The European Union stands with the people of Georgia and their democratic European aspiration.”
- MEP Rasa Juknevičienė, European People’s Party:
“Georgia is a lost case, they say. Accept the situation, let’s be realistic. Many thought that we, Lithuanians, were lost too. But we were not. Georgians have not given up. People are still protesting, majority still wants to have the European future […] Regime wants to ban the opposition parties. It pushed the German political foundations to close their offices in Tbilisi. It puts in prison those who work for democracy and the rule of law.
This is not strength; this is fear. Ivanishvili’s regime chooses Russia by refusing the will of Georgian people, Putinism will be defeated. Bidzinazation of Georgia will be defeated. […] Sanctions are a must on Ivanishvili and all those responsible […].”
- MEP Tobias Cremer, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
“How desperate must a government be to ban every political party but its own? How terrified of its own people must it be to beat up peaceful protesters, arrest journalists and use chemical agents against its own population? […]
But Georgian Dream has one problem, and that’s that Georgians themselves don’t want to be Homo Sovieticus again. They don’t want to just keep their heads down and their mouths shut. No, Georgians have tasted freedom. They’ve tasted Europe, and they will not give up on either […].”
- MEP Małgorzata Gosiewska, European Conservatives and Reformists:
“Bidzina Ivanishvili is destroying democracy in Georgia and leading the country towards a Russian-like dictatorship. […] Release Mikheil Saakashvili immediately and unconditionally and all other political prisoners and let them enter the EU. Let me say this: let us stop just condemning. Time has come for decisive and coordinated action against Ivanishvili, his assets and the entire network of people who maintain this system of repression.”
- MEP Helmut Brandstätter, Renew Europe:
“Georgian oligarch is banning opposition parties. […] Colleagues, the people of Georgia are nothing like this regime. They are Europeans through and through like we are, continuously fighting for freedom and for a European future […].”
- MEP David McAllister, European People’s Party:
“In pursuing a ban on every major oppositional party, the regime has taken another callous step towards authoritarian rule. […] On the 30th of September, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung were forced to close their offices due to a new regulation on foreign grants. […] Both foundations have stood out through their decades-long contribution to political education, democratic pluralism and European integration. All the more it is now important that we stand by the Georgian people, who by an overwhelming majority rally behind the goal of European integration.”
- MEP Leoluca Orlando, Greens/European Free Alliance:
“[…] The process for Georgia to join the EU has been blocked for many years. The European Commission and member states must do everything that they can, do possible, including sanctions, in order to support the right of the Georgian people to live in a democratic country.”
- MEP Reinhold Lopatka, European People’s Party:
“[…] Georgian Dream creates the conditions for a one-party dictatorship. Our responsibility is to stand with all defenders of democracy in Georgia while their democratic power is systematically taken away. We have to fight and to support the democracy movement in Georgia.”
- MEP Sebastian Tynkkynen, European Conservatives and Reformists:
“[…] Now the ruling party is aiming to ban opposition parties. Time for everyone to wake up. The ruling party is called Georgian Dream. It has turned into Georgian Nightmare. That nightmare will not end if we just stand by as eyewitnesses. Europe must be tough against this regime. Impose visa bans, place sanctions. Let’s say no to a new mini Russia.”
- MEP Lukas Sieper, Renew Europe:
“I say to the Georgian ruling party, I say to the Georgian oligarchs, I say to the Georgian puppets of Russia, enjoy your mansions, enjoy your luxury cars, enjoy your power, because eventually you will die. And then the next generation of Georgians will take over and they will lead Georgia to the European future. “
Also Read:
- 17/06/2026 – EU Parliament Adopts Critical Resolution on Georgia, Calls for ‘Targeted’ Sanctions on Ivanishvili, GD Leaders
- 09/07/2025 – European Parliament Adopts 2023-2024 Georgia Report
- 04/06/2025 – EP’s Foreign Affairs Committee Calls for Targeted Sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili