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Summary:
Information Guide concerning a political crisis developing in Georgia in the aftermath of the parliamentary election held in late 2020, which was settled by an agreement reached between the ruling party and the opposition in April 2021.
Further information:
Political tension in Georgia increased following the legislative elections held in late 2020, which attributed a third term to ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party. The opposition forces refused to recognise the electoral results and later withdrew their parliamentary representation in protest against alleged fraud and misconduct. Protests were held in the main Georgian cities.
In February 2021, a court ruled the detention of Nika Melia, the leader of the main opposition party National Movement (UNM), for failure to post bail in a trial where he was accused of participating in riots in 2019 and encouraging protesters to storm the parliament. The decision further escalated the political crisis. Prime Minister Georgi Gakharia announced his resignation on 18 February 2021 in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
During a visit to Tbilisi on 1 March, European Council President Charles Michel took on the role of presiding the talks aimed at finding a solution to the political crisis. Christian Danielsson was later appointed as Mr Michel's personal envoy to mediate the dialogue between the ruling party and the opposition. An agreement was eventually signed on 19 April 2021. The deal included the release of two jailed opposition figures, a set of electoral and judicial reforms. It would also lead to the return of enough members of Parliament to allow it to convene and function.
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Related Links |
- Official
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European Council: Press Release, 01/03/2021: Remarks by President Charles Michel after his meeting in Georgia with Prime Minister Garibashvili and representatives of opposition political parties
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/03/01/remarks-by-president-charles-michel-after-his-meeting-in-georgia-with-prime-minister-garibashvili-and-representatives-of-opposition-political-parties/
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European Council: Press Release, 08/03/2021: President Michel mandates Christian Danielsson to engage as personal envoy, in EU-mediated political dialogue in Georgia
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/03/08/president-michel-mandates-christian-danielsson-to-engage-as-personal-envoy-in-eu-mediated-political-dialogue-in-georgia/
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S&D Group: Newsroom, 09/03/2021: S&Ds: Time to end political crisis in Georgia for the sake of country’s stability and Euro-Atlantic future
https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/sds-time-end-political-crisis-georgia-sake-countrys-stability-and-euro-atlantic-future
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EU EEAS: Georgia: Joint statement of the Spokespersons of the EU High Representative/Vice-President and of the US Department of State on the EU mediation (18 April 2021)
https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/96782/
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US Department of State: Press Release, 18/04/2021: Statement on Georgia’s Political Impasse
https://www.state.gov/statement-on-georgias-political-impasse/
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European Council: Press Release, 19/04/2021: Remarks by President Charles Michel at the signing ceremony of the Georgia agreement with President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/04/19/remarks-by-president-charles-michel-at-the-signing-ceremony-of-the-georgia-agreement-with-president-of-georgia-salome-zourabichvili/
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European Council: Press Release, 20/04/2021: Remarks by President Charles Michel after his meeting with President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili in Tbilisi
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/04/20/remarks-by-president-charles-michel-after-his-meeting-with-president-of-georgia-salome-zourabichvili-in-tbilisi/
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European Council: Press Release, 20/04/2021: Remarks by President Charles Michel after his meeting with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili in Tbilisi
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/04/20/remarks-by-president-charles-michel-after-his-meeting-with-prime-minister-of-georgia-irakli-garibashvili-in-tbilisi/
- News
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EurActiv, 10/11/2020: Georgia opposition defies crackdown, stages new protests
https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/georgia-opposition-defies-crackdown-stages-new-protests/
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Agenda.ge, 16/02/2021: Parliament suspends MP Melia, allows Prosecutor’s Office to demand his arrest
https://agenda.ge/en/news/2021/419
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EurActiv, 18/02/2021: Western allies concerned about deepening political turmoil in Georgia
https://www.euractiv.com/section/all/news/western-allies-concerned-about-deepening-political-turmoil-in-georgia/
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Agenda.ge, 18/02/2021: Ruling party confirms disagreement with PM Gakharia over Melia’s case
https://agenda.ge/en/news/2021/438
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Deutsche Welle, 18/02/2021: Georgia prime minister resigns over opposition leader arrest plan
https://p.dw.com/p/3pW75
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BBC News, 18/02/2021: Georgia PM Giorgi Gakharia quits over order to detain opposition leader
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56111493
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EurActiv, 19/02/2021: Georgia police detain dozens of pro-opposition protesters
https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/georgia-police-detain-dozens-of-pro-opposition-protesters/
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The Guardian, 23/02/2021: Police arrest Georgian opposition leader after storming party HQ
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/23/police-arrest-georgian-opposition-leader-nika-melia-after-storming-party-hq
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EurActiv, 23/02/2021: Georgian police arrest top opposition leader, use tear gas in party HQ raid
https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/georgian-police-arrest-top-opposition-leader-use-tear-gas-in-party-hq-raid/
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Foreign Policy, 23/02/2021: Arrest of Georgia’s Opposition Leader Prompts Call for Sanctions
https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/02/23/nika-melia-arrest-georgia-sanctions-protests/
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Politico, 23/02/2021: Georgian opposition leader arrested amid political crisis
https://www.politico.eu/article/georgian-opposition-leader-arrested-amid-political-crisis-nikanor-melia/
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ERR News, 24/02/2021: Estonia expresses concern over Georgian political crisis
https://news.err.ee/1608121105/estonia-expresses-concern-over-georgian-political-crisis
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EurActiv, 24/02/2021: MEPs ask Charles Michel to mediate in Georgia
https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/meps-ask-charles-michel-to-mediate-in-georgia/
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Politico, 24/02/2021: Georgia crisis tests Western push to check Russian influence
https://www.politico.eu/article/georgia-political-crisis-nika-melia-opposition-west-us-europe-response-russia-influence/
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LRT News, 26/02/2021: Lithuania ready to mediate in Georgia crisis – president
https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1353117/lithuania-ready-to-mediate-in-georgia-crisis-president
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Euronews, 01/03/2021: I'm deeply concerned over Georgia's political crisis, says EU chief Michel
https://www.euronews.com/2021/03/01/i-m-deeply-concerned-over-georgia-s-political-crisis-says-eu-chief-michel
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Politico, 01/03/2021: Charles Michel presides over crisis talks in Georgia
https://www.politico.eu/article/charles-michel-presides-at-crisis-talks-in-georgia/
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The Irish Times, 01/03/2021: Georgia's feuding political forces welcome EU as crisis mediator
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/georgia-s-feuding-political-forces-welcome-eu-as-crisis-mediator-1.4498348
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France24, 01/03/2021: EU launches mediation of Georgia crisis
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210301-eu-launches-mediation-of-georgia-crisis
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EurActiv, 02/03/2021: EU to assess progress in Georgia mediation talks on 15 March
https://www.euractiv.com/section/eastern-europe/news/eu-to-assess-progress-in-georgia-mediation-talks-on-15-march/
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LRT News, 05/03/2021: Lithuanian and EU ministers set up group to mediate in Georgia crisis
https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1358921/lithuanian-and-eu-ministers-set-up-group-to-mediate-in-georgia-crisis
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The Moscow Times, 10/03/2021: Russia Drops Info Bomb Into Georgia’s Political Crisis
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/03/10/russia-drops-info-bomb-into-georgias-political-crisis-a73203
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EurActiv, 12/03/2021: Georgian Dream MPs hope political turmoil can be resolved
https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/georgian-dream-mps-hope-political-turmoil-can-be-resolved/
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EurActiv, 23/03/2021: EU envoy heads back to Georgia to continue mediation
https://www.euractiv.com/section/eastern-europe/news/eu-envoy-heads-back-to-georgia-to-continue-mediation/
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EurActiv, 19/03/2021: EU mediator returns from Georgia empty-handed
https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/eu-mediator-returns-from-georgia-empty-handed/
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EurActiv, 31/03/2021: EU-mediated Georgia crisis talks fail on second try
https://www.euractiv.com/section/eastern-europe/news/eu-mediated-georgia-crisis-talks-fail-on-second-try/
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Eurasianet, 31/03/2021: No European solution for Georgian crisis
https://eurasianet.org/no-european-solution-for-georgian-crisis
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EurActiv, 18/04/2021: EU, US call on Georgia lawmakers to sign compromise pact
https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/eu-us-call-on-georgia-lawmakers-to-sign-compromise-pact/
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Reuters, 19/04/2021: EU brokers deal to end political crisis in Georgia
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eus-michel-says-he-has-brokered-deal-end-crisis-georgia-2021-04-19/
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Associated Press, 19/04/2021: Georgian opposition parties sign deal to end crisis
https://apnews.com/article/4eb9e689a8fd67dd3a5da06cb2cdbede
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Euronews, 20/04/2021: Opposition parties in Georgia sign deal to end political crisis
https://www.euronews.com/2021/04/20/opposition-parties-in-georgia-sign-deal-to-end-political-crisis
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Politico, 20/04/2021: EU brokers deal to end political deadlock in Georgia
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-brokers-deal-to-end-political-deadlock-in-georgia/
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EurActiv, 21/04/2021: Calls for rallies threaten EU deal in Georgia
https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/calls-for-rallies-threaten-eu-deal-in-georgia/
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EurActiv, 21/04/2021: Michel’s mediation in Georgia revealed
https://www.euractiv.com/section/eastern-europe/news/michels-mediation-in-georgia-revealed/
- Commentary and Analysis
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Transparency International: Blog, 28/01/2021: Georgia's Anti-Corruption Reforms Stall Amid Political Crisis and Allegations of State Capture
https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/cpi-2020-georgia-anti-corruption-reforms-stall-political-crisis-state-capture
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RFE/RL, 18/02/2021: Five Things To Know About Georgia And The Political Crisis It's Slipping Toward
https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-political-crisis-five-things-you-need-to-know-ivanishvili-gharabasvili-gakharia-melia/31110248.html
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Politico, 19/02/2021: What you need to know about Georgia’s political crisis
https://www.politico.eu/article/what-you-need-to-know-georgia-political-crisis-giorgi-gakharia/
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Euro|topics, February 2021: Opposition leader in prison: Georgia's PM resigns
https://www.eurotopics.net/en/256664/
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Atlantic Council: Blog, 23/02/2021: Experts react: What’s behind the crisis in Georgia?
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/experts-react-whats-behind-the-crisis-in-georgia/
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The Irish Times: Opinion, 24/02/2021: The Irish Times view on Georgia’s political crisis: revisiting a Soviet past
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorial/the-irish-times-view-on-georgia-s-political-crisis-revisiting-a-soviet-past-1.4494182
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EUObserver: Opinion, 24/02/2021: Georgia is facing the abyss, and calls on EU for help
https://euobserver.com/opinion/151008
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Civil.ge: Interviews, 25/02/2021: What Now? Experts on Ways Out of Georgia Crisis
https://civil.ge/archives/401453
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Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 25/02/2021: In Georgia, a New Crisis That No One Needs
https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/83935
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openDemocracy: ODR Opinion, 04/03/2021: Georgia is suddenly making international headlines. But its crisis isn't new
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/georgia-has-been-crisis-long-time/
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Carnegie Moscow Center: Commentary, 04/03/2021: Does Georgia’s Latest Crisis Have Global Implications?
https://carnegie.ru/commentary/84005
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German Institute for International and Security Affairs: SWP Comment No 26, April 2021: Deadlock in Georgia: Political Crisis and Regional Changes Need an EU Response
https://www.swp-berlin.org/10.18449/2021C26/
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EurActiv: Opinion, 06/04/2021: The EU should get serious about Georgia’s political crisis
https://www.euractiv.com/section/eastern-europe/opinion/the-eu-should-get-serious-about-georgias-political-crisis/
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OBC Transeuropa, 14/04/2021: Georgia: the EU speaks out on the political crisis
https://www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Areas/Georgia/Georgia-the-EU-speaks-out-on-the-political-crisis-210023
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EPC: Commentary, 30/04/2021: Georgia’s road ahead: Time for the EU to show some tough love
https://epc.eu/en/publications/Georgias-road-ahead-Time-for-the-EU-to-show-some-tough-love~3e7c18
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