Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets to protest against what they say was fraud in last month's parliamentary election, in which the ruling Georgian Dream party, seen as increasingly pro-Russian, claimed victory.
Election observers said the ballot was beset by “irregularities,” including violence, and reports of “intimidation and pressure on voters.”
President Salome Zourabichvili refused to accept the result, and the pro-Western liberal opposition is demanding new elections.
Since the vote results were announced, the European Union, a major donor to Georgia and a supporter of democratic reforms, has been working on a response.
Speaking to reporters before a meeting of the EU’s top diplomats on Monday in Brussels, Borrell said the bloc’s foreign ministers would freeze funding for the Georgian government.
“I propose to stop supporting an important part of the programs that go to the government,” Borrell said. “So we’ll take this money, about 100 million euros, and give the money to civil society organizations in order to support them in their fight for a fair election.”
Georgia was granted an accession pathway to the European Union in 2022 alongside Ukraine and Moldova, but this has now been put on hold.
“It is stopped until the Georgian government gets back on track. To go back to the track, a lot of things have to change,” Borrell said.
He also called for a full investigation into the reported election irregularities, as well as clarification from the Georgian government.
“You cannot say that the elections were not free and fair and not investigate that,” he added.
