Georgian ruling party MP alleges opposition sought to block delegation’s credentials at CoE

Givi Mikanadze, a Georgian Dream ruling party MP and Chair of the Committee on Education, Science and Youth Affairs, who also serves as a member of the country’s Parliamentary delegation to the Council of Europe, has accused opposition politicians and civil society representatives of orchestrating a campaign to undermine the country’s international standing by attempting to prevent the recognition of the delegation’s credentials at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg.

Speaking at a session of the Georgian Parliament’s temporary investigative commission probing alleged crimes under the previous United National Movement government between 2003-2012, Mikanadze claimed that following the 2024 general elections, a coordinated effort was made by representatives of four opposition groups and various non-governmental organizations to block the official delegation’s accreditation at PACE.

“After the elections, there was an unprecedented mobilization of radical groups, opposition politicians, and NGO representatives,” Mikanadze said. “Their primary objective was to prevent the recognition of the Georgian delegation’s credentials and thereby harm the country’s international image.”

Mikanadze further  claimed a range of individuals travelled to Strasbourg, including opposition figures Tina Bokuchava, Salome Samadashvili, Giorgi Kandelaki, Zurab Chiaberashvili, and Zurab Girchi Japaridze. He also named NGO representatives such as Nino Dolidze (ISFED), Nona Kurdovanidze (Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association), and Giorgi Oniani (Transparency International – Georgia), among others.

“These individuals were in close contact with political groups within PACE, particularly the European People’s Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. They actively lobbied against our delegation, spread disinformation, and urged political leaders to deny our credentials,” Mikanadze said.

The MP alleged that some of these figures held meetings with the President of PACE and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, during which they “categorically” opposed the recognition of Georgia’s delegation.

“I do not recall this level of mobilisation by non-official individuals. Many of them had previously refused their parliamentary mandates and were not legitimate representatives of the Georgian legislature.”