georgia and the coe - the cost of the boycott

In January 2025, the parliamentary delegation of Georgia suspended its work in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) after the Assembly ratified the delegation's credentials with preconditions by its resolution of January 29, 2025. The full ratification of the mandates was postponed pending the fulfillment of specific conditions required to ensure the country's return to a democratic path.

Instead of fulfilling the conditions outlined in the resolution, the Georgian delegation opted for a boycott. In doing so, it effectively mirrored the Russian approach: a path taken by Russia in 2000 and 2014 when, in response to restrictions imposed by the PACE, it rejected constructive dialogue and boycotted the Assembly.

The Value-Based Dimension

While Georgia remains a member of the Council of Europe, its withdrawal from the parliamentary format represents a major political and reputational setback for the country.

Georgia joined the Council of Europe in 1999. This was not merely a political decision, but an acknowledgment that Georgia was considered an integral part of the European political and legal space. In this very context, the historic statement made by Zurab Zhvania upon accession -“I am Georgian, and therefore I am European” - became the main message reflecting the country's foreign policy.

At the same time, the Council of Europe has played a vital role in strengthening Georgia's democratic institutions and fostering its integration into the European political and legal space.

The current state of boycott contradicts democratic standards and undermines the political legacy that has played a pivotal role in shaping Georgia's image as a reliable and trustworthy partner. 

The Political Cost

By distancing itself from the Parliamentary Assembly, the country remains excluded from the discussions where common European positions on democracy, the rule of law and human rights are shaped. This platform provided Georgia with the opportunity to keep its priority topics on the international agenda, first and foremost, issues related to the Georgian regions occupied by Russia. With this decision, Georgia has willingly relinquished the platform where its national challenges could have been discussed within regional and European context, particularly amid Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine.

Furthermore, the Assembly is an important forum for raising the issue of Russia's unfulfilled legal obligations. Georgia has won landmark interstate cases against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), including the so-called “August War case”, the so-called "Deportation Case”, and the Case of Continued Occupation). Russia has refused to satisfy the financial obligations arising from the Court's judgments. The Assembly is the very platform where the Georgian delegation could have regularly raised the issue of Russia's disregard for the judgments of the ECHR.

Suspension of the work in the Assembly inflicts long-term damage on the country's declared foreign policy priorities. Through this isolationist policy, the capacity to protect national interests has been sharply weakened - restricting the visibility of the occupied regions' issue, weakening instruments of political pressure on Russia, and forfeiting the opportunity to contribute to other key agenda items and shape the country's positioning within the European political discourse. By attempting to evade responsibility for its actions and rejecting constructive dialogue and partnership, the country's international reputation has been profoundly damaged.

Despite the boycott, the Assembly continues to assess ongoing developments in Georgia and document the country's democratic backsliding. Two resolutions (Res. 2600 and Res.2624) already adopted by the Assembly in 2025 stand as a clear testament to this. Furthermore, the PACE plans to adopt another resolution on June 24. 

21/06/26