The Georgian delegation has submitted a letter to the Bureau of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

The letter, signed by the Head of the Georgian Delegation and Deputy Chairman of the Tbilisi City Assembly, Zurab Abashidze, along with the Vice-President of NALAG and Chairman of the Tbilisi City Assembly, Giorgi Tkemaladze, and Tbilisi City Assembly member Otar Grigolia, responds to the recent statement issued by the Bureau of the Congress. The statement addresses the postponement of elections and emphasizes the need for closer cooperation with the opposition.

“During the meeting with the delegation of the Bureau of the Congress of the Council of Europe, we held an open and transparent discussion about the recent developments in Georgia, including the upcoming local elections. We thought we had reached a mutual understanding on this issue. That is why we were surprised by the Bureau’s subsequent call for postponing the elections and closer cooperation with the opposition. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe appears to be questioning Georgia’s sovereignty and independence. As a sovereign nation, Georgia is committed to upholding its constitutional framework, which ensures the stability and democratization of our country. The Bureau’s call to postpone the elections goes beyond the framework of the modern civilized world and, in general, the framework defined by legislation. The official body calls on a sovereign country to act following foreign recommendations and not its constitution. We believe that such recommendations should coincide with the constitutional processes of member states,” the statement says.

The Georgian delegation’s letter also addressed the ongoing protests in Tbilisi. According to the letter, the protests were not peaceful and involved violent actions against state institutions, law enforcement officers, and public infrastructure. It also stated that during the protests, so-called Molotov cocktails and pyrotechnics were used, posing a direct threat to Georgia’s constitutional order and the security of its citizens.

“We are deeply concerned by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe’s description of violent groups as “peaceful demonstrators”. Such a description is not only inaccurate but it’s also misleading. More than 150 police officers were injured during the protests. The destruction of infrastructure and disruption of emergency services also put the safety of ordinary citizens at risk. We trust that the Bureau is aware of the importance of maintaining public order and the rule of law,” the statement says.

The letter also discusses the reorganization of the public sector and states that public servants in Georgia enjoy complete freedom of expression and decision-making, and many of them continue their careers despite their critical views towards the government.

“We sincerely hope that Congress will reconsider its current attitude and approaches, which will allow us to return to the path of healthy, mutually beneficial cooperation, where Georgia is an active contributor and Congress continues to demonstrate valuable international experience. We are open to further discussions and are ready to continue our partnership, which will be based on mutual respect,” the latter released by the Tbilisi City Assembly says.