NGOs call on Senators for more U.S. involvement in the crisis
Published:
GAIN YOUR FREEDOM TOGETHER WITH US!
The non-governmental organizations addressed a letter to the American senators regarding the crisis in Georgia. The statement said that the prolongation of the situation in the country will only help the Kremlin, against the background of the country facing serious geopolitical threats.
According to them, overcoming the crisis and further development of the country's democracy are important factors for Georgia's rapid accession to Euro-Atlantic structures.
"Georgian civil society representatives are asking the US senators for help in achieving the following goals:
1. Increase US participation in EU efforts, which involves mediation to resolve the current crisis. It must be made clear that the status quo, or in fact a one-party parliament, is incompatible with membership in the Euro-Atlantic community.
2. The crisis must be mitigated by releasing the accused (Nika Melia and George Rurua) from detention and by suspending the cases to be tried by a future reformed court.
3. Demand judicial and electoral reforms. The appointment of members of the Supreme Court, non-judicial members of the High Council of Justice and members of the Central Electoral Commission (including the president) should require the consent of the opposition. Elections for both parliament and local government should be held under a proportional system with a natural threshold. Implementation of these systemic changes should begin in the spring 2021 session.
4. The distribution of power in various institutions, including parliament, should be encouraged. The appointment of the Auditor General and Attorney General should require the consent of the opposition.
5. Once the ruling party has made these commitments to the Georgian people and its international partners, the opposition should take seats in parliament, won in 2020 elections, to be involved in the institutionalized political process and participate in the development and implementation of the above-mentioned reforms.
The letter is signed by:
• Transparency International-Georgia;
• Georgian Young Lawyers Association;
• International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy;
• Open Society Georgia Foundation;
• Liberal Academy Tbilisi.
NGOs point out that now is the moment in the country's development process when external involvement is necessary to end this crisis.
