Nordic, Baltic countries express serious concern over 'crisis' in Georgia

ISTANBUL

A group of eight countries, the Nordic and Baltic Eight (NB8), on Sunday expressed "serious concern" about what they called Georgia's political "crisis" since October's parliamentary elections.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden called for a "thorough and impartial investigation" into the irregularities that allegedly took place during Georgia's Oct. 26 elections.

They also raised concerns about reports of "violence and intimidation" involving protesters, politicians, and media representatives.

"As long-standing friends of Georgia, and supporters of the European aspirations of the Georgian people, we are alarmed by the country’s path toward deeper polarisation and crisis," the statement said.

They urged Georgian authorities to implement the electoral recommendations of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to consider the possibility of new elections.

"Georgia urgently needs a way out of the crisis, and to restore public trust in its democratic institutions," the statement added.

This statement follows accusations from Georgia’s opposition that Russia interfered in the Oct. 26 general elections, leading them to demand fresh polls.

The European Parliament has also called for new elections, saying that the Oct. 26 polls were neither free nor fair, which has intensified protests led by opposition groups and pro-EU activists.

Tensions in Georgia escalated further after passage of the controversial Transparency of Foreign Influence law, which critics claim restricts political freedoms.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's Nov. 28 announcement that he was suspending Georgia's EU accession talks until 2028 further fueled outrage.

Separately, Mikheil Kavelashvili on Sunday was sworn in as Georgia's sixth president during a ceremony in the capital, after being elected earlier this month.