On March 28, PACE Co-Rapporteurs visited Georgia for a working visit. The PACE delegation consists of co-rapporteurs Claude Kern and Edite Estrela, as well as Bas Klein, the Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the PACE Monitoring Committee.

Meeting with the government and ruling party

According to the Georgian Government Administration, the meeting's primary topics included the agenda for Georgia's continuing and implemented democratic reforms and the key directions of collaboration between Georgia and the PACE. The PACE co-rapporteurs fruitful effort received special notice.

The situation in Georgia's seized areas was also examined, and the importance of the Council of Europe in promoting amicable conflict settlement was noted. Minister Garibashvili praised PACE for its consistent support of Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Moreover, the Georgian Dream MPs of the Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee met with the PACE co-rapporteurs to discuss the implementation of the European Commission's proposals.

Anri Okhanashvili, the committee's chairman, stated that the European visitors were interested in the committee's actions to put the 12 recommendations into practice, particularly those relating to the draft law on de-oligarchization and legal matters. "We shared with our visitors the feedback we have had on these versions from the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR. All of the proposals that are in line with the highest European standards and the strategies put out by the Venice Commission will be taken into consideration, and all legislation will be passed," he continued.

Meeting with opposition

Giorgi Vashadze, the leader of "Strategy Aghmashenebeli," remarked that the PACE co-rapporteurs criticized the current legislative procedures in the Parliament as shocking.

Salome Samadashvili, a member of parliament from the Lelo for Georgia party, stated, "We discussed with our European colleagues about the levers to raise pressure on the current government and guarantee that the Georgian people do not lose their right to become EU citizens."

The PACE co-rapporteurs and United National Movement MP Tina Bokuchava addressed threats to Georgia's democracy, EU integration, and national objectives and aspirations. She said, "We also discussed Mikheil Saakashvili's health."

MP Teona Akubardia of the Reforms Group stated, "We addressed the process of implementing the European Commission's proposals, as well as the challenges and barriers presented by the Georgian Dream." She emphasized that ex-President Saakashvili's problems and those of Nika Gvaramia, the head of the critically regarded Mtavari Arkhi TV, were also discussed at the conference.