PACE rapporteurs for
Georgia express concern about financial actions against the Georgian Dream
coalition
Strasbourg,
21.08.2012 - The co-rapporteurs for Georgia of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE), Michael Aastrup Jensen (Denmark, ALDE) and Boriss
Cilevics (Latvia, SOC) today expressed their concern about the reports that the
Georgian authorities have seized the bank accounts of the Georgian Dream
opposition coalition, thereby undermining its participation in the election
campaign for the parliamentary elections that will take place on 1 October 2012.
“The excessive and disproportionate fines levied by the State Audit Service
effectively undermine normal political activity by an opposition party. This is
of concern, especially in the context of recurrent allegations of bias of the
State Audit Service and reports by credible organisations, such as the Georgian
Young Lawyers Association, that question the fairness of the court decisions in
this respect” said the co-rapporteurs.
“The rationale for campaign funding legislation is to ensure a level playing
field between all electoral contestants, and not to drive one party or the other
out of the electoral race. The upcoming elections, and their democratic conduct,
are crucial for Georgia’s democratic development. We therefore call upon the
Georgian authorities to demonstrate maximum restraint and to ensure that all
parties, including he Georgian Dream Coalition, can participate fully in the
electoral campaign” they added.
The two co-rapporteurs will visit Georgia on 11 and 12 September 2012 as part of
the pre-electoral mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe.
For any further inquiries please contact PACE
at: T: +33388413193 E-mail: pace.com@coe.int
A
political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to promote
democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to
social, cultural and legal challenges in its 47 member states.
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A
political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to promote
democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to
social, cultural and legal challenges in its 47 member states.