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resolution motion, 9 March 2026

On the case of Elene Khoshtaria and political prisoners under the Georgian Dream regime

Motion B-10-2026-0168 · (2026/2643(RSP))

on behalf of the Renew Group · Rapporteur: Urmas Paet, Lucia Yar, JanChristoph Oetjen, Nathalie Loiseau, MarieAgnes StrackZimmermann, Malik Azmani, Olivier Chastel, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Helmut Brandstätter, Dan Barna, Petras Auštrevičius, Anna Stürgkh, Bernard Guetta, Dainius Žalimas, Hilde Vautmans, Svenja Hahn, Benoit Cassart, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová

On Parliament’s site PDF Word

AI:In short

This resolution condemns the politically motivated detention of Elene Khoshtaria and other political prisoners in Georgia, and calls for their immediate release. It demands an independent investigation into ill-treatment and abuse of national security laws, and urges Georgia to stop using pre-trial detention for political repression. It calls on EU institutions to make persecution a benchmark in EU-Georgia relations and consider targeted measures against responsible officials. It encourages support for at-risk activists and journalists, expresses solidarity with the Georgian people, and considers engagement with authorities impossible until reversal of repression.

Key points

  1. Condemns the politically motivated detention of Elene Khoshtaria and all individuals targeted for pro-European activities or peaceful dissent, and calls for their immediate and unconditional release.
  2. Demands an independent and transparent investigation into allegations of ill-treatment in custody and abuse of national security legislation.
  3. Urges Georgian authorities to cease using pre-trial detention as a tool of political repression and to ensure judicial independence and due process.
  4. Calls on the Commission, Council and EEAS to treat persecution of political opponents as a benchmark in EU-Georgia relations and consider targeted measures against officials responsible.
  5. Encourages the Commission and Member States to support and protect Georgian activists, journalists, and opposition figures at risk.
  6. Expresses full solidarity with the Georgian people in their struggle for a European and democratic Georgia.
  7. Considers it impossible to engage with Georgian authorities until there is a clear reversal of repression; continues to recognise Salome Zourabichvili as Georgia's legitimate president.

Who is affected

  • Elene Khoshtaria and other political prisoners in Georgia, who are to be released.
  • Georgian authorities, who are urged to stop repression and ensure judicial independence.
  • EU institutions (Commission, Council, EEAS), which are called on to consider targeted measures.
  • Georgian activists, journalists, and opposition figures at risk, who should receive support and protection.
  • Georgian people, with whom Parliament expresses solidarity.

Figures and deadlines

  • 48 individuals currently serving prison sentences and 68 in pre-trial detention on politically motivated charges.
  • Alleged damages assessed at approximately 170 EUR.
  • Potential sentences of up to 15 years for escalated charges.

Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem

Full text

Text 20 paragraphs

B100168/2026

European Parliament resolution on the case of Elene Khoshtaria and other political prisoners under the Georgian Dream regime

(2026/2643(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to its previous resolutions on Georgia,

having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas the Georgian authorities have further escalated the repression of political opposition and civil society, notably through the arbitrary detention of Elene Khoshtaria, Chair of the pro-European party Droa and a leading figure in the Coalition for Change;

whereas Ms Khoshtaria with serious health issues is held in pre-trial detention on politically motivated charges, stemming from a minor act of political expression—writing “Russian Dream” on a campaign banner—with alleged damages assessed at approximately 170 EUR;

whereas the charges against her have been escalated to include trumped-up “sabotage” and “assisting a foreign state,” carrying potential sentences of up to 15 years;

whereas her case is emblematic of a broader pattern of criminalizing pro-European political activity, with 48 individuals currently serving prison sentences and 68 in pre-trial detention on charges widely viewed as politically motivated, including politicians, civic activists, journalists, veterans, artists, and individuals with serious health conditions;

whereas the case of Elene Khoshtaria combines arbitrary detention, abuse of national security legislation, degrading treatment in custody, and gender-based political intimidation, reflecting a deliberate strategy to silence pro-European voices and intimidate women in politics;

whereas these practices are incompatible with Georgia’s European aspirations, the European Convention on Human Rights, and its international obligations;

Read the rest (8 paragraphs)

Condemns the politically motivated detention of Elene Khoshtaria and all individuals targeted for their pro-European activities or peaceful dissent and calls for their immediate and unconditional release;

Demands an independent and transparent investigation into allegations of ill-treatment in custody and the abuse of national security legislation;

Urges the Georgian authorities to cease the use of pre-trial detention as a tool of political repression and to ensure judicial independence and due process;

Reiterates its calls on the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and the EEAS to treat the persecution of political opponents and civil society as a specific benchmark in the EU-Georgia relationship and to consider targeted measures against officials responsible for political prosecutions and human rights abuses;

Encourages the European Commission and the Member States to support and provide protection to Georgian activists, journalists, and opposition figures at risk;

Expresses its full solidarity with the Georgian people, who continue their struggle for a European and democratic Georgia in the face of democratic backsliding, repression, hostile rhetoric, disinformation and threats;

6a Considers it impossible to engage with Georgian authorities until there is a clear reversal of its current course of repression; continues to recognise Salome Zourabichvili as Georgia’s legitimate president;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Member States, and the Georgian Dream President, Government and Parliament of Georgia, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE.