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

B100162/2026

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

(2026/2643(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 150 (5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Elene Khoshtaria, leader of the opposition Droa party, was detained on 15 September 2025 and charged under Article 187 of the Criminal Code for damaging election banners of Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze; whereas the maximum penalty for the property-damage charge is up to five years;

B. whereas on 6 November 2025, the Georgian Prosecutor General’s Office announced an investigation into crimes against the state against eight opposition leaders, including Elene Khoshtaria; whereas the opposition leaders are accused of organising violent protests after the 2024 elections, hostile activity against Georgia, and calls for the overthrow of the government;

C. whereas this takes place against the backdrop of a broader political crisis since 2024, marked by mass protests, contested elections and mutual accusations of attempts to overthrow the constitutional order;

D. whereas 88 Members of the Georgian Parliament have filed a constitutional lawsuit, requesting a ban of three major opposition parties;

E. whereas Georgia has one of the highest rates of NGOs per capita worldwide;

1. Notes that the Tbilisi City Court has accepted for consideration the “sabotage case”;

calls on the opposition parties, the ruling party as well as on all external actors to refrain from interfering in the judicial procedure to guarantee a fair and impartial trial;

2. Notes that in the 2025 World Justice Project Rule of Law index, Georgia ranks 52nd out of 143 countries globally and 1st out of 15 in Eastern Europe and Central Asia;

3. Recalls that in a democracy, people have the freedom to assemble and to protest against

government measures; recalls, however, that in a democracy, power is transferred through elections and that political parties must respect the outcomes of elections and not incite violent street protests;

4. Emphasises that in a democracy, political pluralism and diversity of opinion is essential

and that a political party can only be prohibited if it uses violence, or aims to destroy the

democratic constitutional order of a state;

5. Notes that many opposition-linked civil society organisations (CSOs) have been agitating for the overthrow of the government; takes note of the government’s aim to prevent that external funds flow into Georgia to finance NGOs that pursue partisan politics; notes recent amendments to the Law on Grants;

6. Calls on the EU to respect the democratic choice of the Georgian people; warns the EU that by supporting efforts to overturn a legitimate election result because of dissatisfaction with the

outcome, it is undermining democracy in Georgia;

7. Calls on the EU to respect Georgia’s multi-vector foreign policy, aimed at maintaining

balanced, diversified and cooperative ties with multiple foreign powers;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice- President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European External Action Service, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the President, government and parliament of Georgia.