Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili challenged the European Union to do more to support pro-EU protesters and press the ruling Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party to hold new elections following its unilateral decision to postpone negotiations with the 27-member bloc.
Protesters, who have seen their street protests met with heavy handed police tactics, have also called for fresh elections in almost daily rallies following allegations of electoral fraud during the October parliamentary poll whose results the opposition has refused to recognize amid accusations that Georgian Dream rigged the vote to cling to power.
In power since 2012, Georgian Dream was founded by Russia-friendly billionaire and ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.
SEE ALSO: Georgian Government Seeks To Ban Fireworks, An Iconic Symbol Of The ProtestsPro-European Zurabishvili, who has sided with the protesters, told EU lawmakers in Strasbourg on December 18, that the elections must be repeated since they were marred by fraud, violence, and Russian influence.
“Europe needs to find the leverage to act. If Europe cannot exert leverage on a country of 3.7 million, how can it expect to compete with the giants of the 21st century?” she said, while also accusing Georgian Dream of spending the equivalent of some $214 million in what she called "black money" to sway the election in its favor.
"Intimidation, the use of administrative resources, Russian-style propaganda...In addition, 'black money' was used in large quantities. There were no police during the elections. I personally witnessed violence in various districts and tried to contact the minister of internal affairs, but I could not get through," Zurabishvili added.
Georgia received EU candidate status in December last year but ties with Brussels have been tense in recent months following the adoption in May of a controversial "foreign agent" law. Critics say the legislation threatens media outlets and civil society groups and mirrors a similar Russian law used by the Kremlin to stifle political opponents and civil society.
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Georgian Activist Decorates Tbilisi Christmas Tree With Images Of People Beaten At Protests
After the ruling Georgian Dream party declared victory in an election on October 26, protests restarted and intensified after the government said it was suspending talks with Brussels on Tbilisi's bid to join the EU, Georgia’s biggest donor, biggest economic market, and home to the South Caucasus country’s biggest diaspora until 2028.
EU foreign ministers on December 16 agreed to slap visa restrictions on some Georgian officials, but Moscow-friendly Hungary and Slovakia blocked a proposed package of sanctions against leading Georgian officials for the violent crackdown on protesters.
“If we are honest, Europe so far has not fully lived (up) to the moment. Europe has, so far, met the challenge halfway,” she said. “Where Georgians have been fighting day and night, Europeans have been slow to wake up and slow to react.”
Zurabishvili is due to be replaced by a Georgian Dream-friendly ex-soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili, who was appointed as Georgia’s new president by parliament last week.
Meanwhile, Council of Europe chief Alain Berset arrived in Georgia on a four-day visit on December 18.
Berset said in a statement that his visit aims to verify whether the conditions for continued cooperation between the continental human rights watchdog and the Georgian government are still being met after riot police used excessive violence against peaceful protesters.
Security forces have cracked down on demonstrators for more than three weeks, detaining dozens and injuring scores of people who accuse the government of moving Georgia away from the EU and closer to Russia.
"As a member state of the Council of Europe since 1999, Georgia is bound to respect its fundamental commitments: democracy, the protection of human rights, and the rule of law," Berset said in a statement released ahead of the visit.
"In the current tense and worrying context, the Council of Europe calls on all parties to avoid any escalation of tensions. It urges the authorities to refrain from the disproportionate use of force and to respect fundamental freedoms, in particular freedom of expression and assembly," Berset said, adding, "These principles are essential to guarantee the country's stability and to meet the expectations of the Georgian people."
During his visit to Georgia, Berset is set to meet with representatives of the government, the opposition, and civil society organizations.