Luís Montenegro says EU “must be very clear in telling the Georgian people that the respect for human rights and the values of democracy must be ensured”
Portugal is following “with great concern” the crisis in Georgia, which has been shaken by violently repressed demonstrations against the suspension of negotiations to join the European Union.
“We are following developments in the situation in Georgia with great concern,” said Portugal’s Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, on Wednesday. “Portugal has reiterated – and I believe this will be done at the European Council by our partners – the importance of the European Union continuing the accession process and of reversing this trend of political power that is contrary to the people’s wishes,” the PM added during the preparatory debate for the meeting of the heads of state and government of the EU’s 27 member states on December 19 and 20, the first headed by former Portuguese prime minister António Costa.
On November 28, the Tbilisi government, led by the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party, announced the suspension of talks regarding Georgia’s integration into the European Union until 2028, which sparked large-scale protests across the country, which are continuing despite the repression.
In response to a question from the right-wing Chega Party about the situation in Russia’s neighbouring country, Montenegro stressed that the European Union is not making any “direct interference”, but will be “very firm in relation to the recent position of the Georgian government”.
“Something is wrong when the government makes a U-turn and people don’t respect it, they demonstrate (…) in a very consolidated and relevant protest,” he said.
For Montenegro, the EU “must be very clear in telling the Georgian people and the authorities that the path of respect for human rights and the values of democracy must be ensured”.
EU ministers of foreign affairs are due to consider sanctions against Georgia at a meeting on December 16.
According to human rights campaigners, around 400 people were detained during the demonstrations and more than 300 of them were victims of police violence.
More than 50 journalists were also injured, which was denounced by international press associations and civil society in Georgia.
Georgian authorities reported that 150 police officers were injured in clashes with demonstrators during the first few days of the protests.
Source: LUSA
