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You can vote but you can’t choose: Belarus’ 2025 sham election

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Belarus, Brussels, 27 January 2025

We, the representatives of the Belarusian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and of the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, strongly condemn the so-called presidential elections in the Republic of Belarus held on 26 January 2025.

The electoral process in the Republic of Belarus took place in violation of international norms, under conditions of total terror by security forces, in the absence of real separation of powers, independent press, independent judiciary, and real political competition.

Under electoral slogans of fighting against internal and external “enemies” (corruption, sabotage, “external interference”), the suppression of any opposition or independent activity continues in Belarus.

Political repressions, persecution of civil activists, independent media, and opposition figures make it impossible to consider these elections legitimate and fair. The process of forming electoral commissions is non-transparent and fully controlled by the executive branch.

The current conditions exclude transparency in the election process and make it impossible to conduct truly democratic, competitive elections, rendering their results illegitimate.

Under the current conditions, where an independent election observation is impossible, the electoral process in Belarus remains not compliant with the international commitments made by Belarus on democratic standards and requires international attention.

Echoing the European Parliament urgent resolution on Belarus of 22 January 2025, calling on the EU and the international community to address the continued oppression and fake elections in Belarus, we reiterate our unconditional support to the people of Belarus in their demands of democratic pluralism and right to freely choose their political representatives, and call on the EU, its Member States and the international community to:

  • Unequivocally condemn these illegitimate elections, not recognising their results and the self-proclaimed president Lukashenka,
  • Condemn Lukashenka’s systematic repressions against peaceful citizens and continued intensified crackdown on civil society and independent media,
  • Continue providing staunch political support to the Belarusian Democratic Forces and civil society organisations, independent media and human rights defenders in the country and in exile, including supporting their efforts for the formulation of a clear roadmap for the political transformation of the country,
  • Continue putting pressure on Belarusian authorities to unconditionally release the over 1,300 political prisoners, invest in programmes that sustain their recovery and rehabilitation, and to support their families,
  • Redouble efforts to step up their commitment to the build-up of democracy in Belarus and restore democratic procedures in the country,
  • Ensure that necessary sanctions to the regime do not isolate people, by investing in more ties and opportunities for youth, in particular. While sanctions on Belarus are important to fight circumvention of existing sanctions against Russia, we must avoid the building of a new iron curtain and the further isolation of Belarusian people,
  • Hold Lukashenka’s regime accountable for its human rights violations and Belarus’ role in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The international community’s support to Belarusian civil society and democratic forces is crucial, but these actions alone will not suffice in the long term if not supported by an actual strategy for the political transformation of the country. Lukashenka is consolidating Belarus’ totalitarianism, isolationism and supporting Russia. The development of a concrete and comprehensive strategy for the democratisation of the country can no longer be postponed.

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and its Belarusian National Platform confirm their readiness to continue supporting democratic changes and civil society in Belarus.

Crisis in Georgia: how to support civil society while pressuring the authorities 

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On 18 December 2024, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) held a discussion about the unfolding situation in Georgia. Georgian civil society representatives and EU and international stakeholders exchanged insights, updates and recommendations, and civil society expressed expectations from the EU and Member States on how they can better support Georgia’s democratic aspirations and civil society efforts.  

The Georgian government’s decision to suspend the country’s EU integration process on 28 November has triggered widespread protests over the past three weeks, reflecting deep public discontent with the ruling Georgian Dream party.  

With around 80 % of Georgians in favour of EU membership, these actions have alienated large parts of society and raised concerns about Georgia’s democratic trajectory and its relationship with the EU. The protests have been met with a surge of violent measures, including hundreds of arrests and incidents of police brutality and repression. 

The Georgian Dream government is facing growing isolation both internationally and in the country, while employing new forms of pressure against Georgian civil society by weaponising legislation. 

Civil society and independent media will not be able to continue operating freely in the existing context, and the risk to end up in a Russia-like scenario is extremely high, making the exertion of international and internal pressure crucial to revert the current trajectory which is taking Georgia to downright authoritarianism. 

Recommendations to the EU, its Member States, and international organisations 

The government is in need of international recognition and legitimisation, and measures should be taken to further its isolation, increasing international pressure, including through: 

  • Imposing sanctions on Georgian officials to isolate the Georgian Dream government 
  • Meeting with civil society and opposition representatives  
  • Inviting civil society and academia instead of Georgian Dream representatives to high-level meetings 

Civil society and media are maintaining strong internal pressure while facing harsh repression. They should be supported by:

  • Stronger political and direct financial support  
  • Increasing pressure on the Georgian Dream government to release the people who have been arrested and continue supporting the individuals who have been charged with criminal and administrative offences and their rehabilitation. 

Read the report

You can download the full report through this link.

Human rights must be upheld! 

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On Human Rights Day, the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum recalls the Resolution of its 2024 General Assembly adopted at the 1st EaP CSF Civil Society Summit on 19 November 2024 in Vienna. 

In the context of political turmoil and geopolitical complexities exacerbated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, conflicts and oppressions still impact countless lives across the EaP region. 

We condemn Russia’s continued systematic attacks in Ukraine leaving behind documented occurrences of torture, rape and child abduction, and the intensifying human rights violations in Russian-occupied territories in Georgia, including kidnapping of peaceful population and continued discrimination. 

We are worried about the repression of civil society and increasing of the number of political prisoners in Belarus and Azerbaijan. In Belarus, over 1,300 people remain behind bars for politically motivated reasons; in Azerbaijan, over 300 people face the same fate, including journalists Aynur Elgunesh (Gambarova), Natig Javadli, Khayala Agayeva, Aysel Umudova, Aytaj Tapdig (Ahmadova), Ramin Deko (Jabrailzade), and the deputy director of the Baku Journalism School, Ulvi Tahirov, arrested on 8 December 2024. 

In the context of the nation-wide protests that emerged at the end of November following the Georgian government’s decision to suspend EU accession negotiations until the end of 2028, we express serious concerns over the current full-blown crackdown on fundamental freedoms in Georgia, police violence and the arrests of over 350 protestors, including activists, journalists and representatives of political opposition. Moreover, we condemn the Georgian government unabating smear campaigns targeting civil society that severely undermine the ability of Georgian civil society to take part in civic dialogue, policymaking and consultations. 

We reaffirm EaP governments’ obligation to uphold the fundamental rights and freedoms of their citizens and to foster a supportive environment for civil society. In light of the current geopolitical challenges affecting civil society across the EaP region, we call on: 

The European Union

  • To prioritise human rights and rule of law over short-term interests, such as energy agreements and supplies, when engaging with EaP countries’ governments, notably the Azerbaijani authorities, 

The EU Member States  

  • To step up their commitment to the build-up of democracy in Azerbaijan and Belarus and on increasing international pressure to unconditionally release all political prisoners in Azerbaijan and Belarus, 
  • To facilitate relocation of EaP citizens at risk of political persecution through visa support, professional and educational opportunities, and to provide necessary assistance to the over 120,000 Armenians who have been subject to enforced displacement from the former territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, 
  • To formalise prolongation of the temporary protection for the Ukrainians fleeing from Russia’s war of aggression, 

The Azerbaijani, Belarusian and Georgian authorities

  • To repeal repressive laws hampering civil society’s work and ensure freedom of expression and freedom of association, in line with Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, 

The Armenian, Azerbaijani and Belarusian authorities

  • To ratify the Istanbul Convention,  

The EaP countries

  • To promote inclusion of persons with disabilities and ensure meaningful youth participation in policymaking while prioritising support for vulnerable groups, including young people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and displaced youth,  

The international prosecutors, including the International Criminal Court

  • To investigate and prosecute Russia’s war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine. 

Civil society’s role is key in defending human rights and denouncing human rights violation in the EaP countries. We remain committed to fundamental reforms, in particular the rule of law and fundamental rights, in all engagements with the EaP countries. 

Meet the activists ensuring fair elections in Moldova

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In our “Meet our Members” series, this month we talked to Nicolae Panfil, Program Director at Promo-Lex in Moldova.  

Established in 2002, Promo-LEX seeks to foster democratic development and protect human rights throughout Moldova, with a mission to encompass the promotion and protection of human rights, the strengthening of democratic processes and institutions, and the development of civil society.  

Promo-Lex received the EaP CSF Civil Society Award in 2019 for their outstanding and courageous work in the field of the political, economic and social development of their countries and defending core democratic values. Promo-Lex participated in election observation missions. We asked Nicolae about the challenges posed by the latest presidential election and referendum in Moldova. 

How exactly do you do election observation? 

Nicolae Panfil: “The Promo-LEX observation methodology includes both long-term election observation – from the setting of the election date until the confirmation of its legality – as well as short-term monitoring of voting procedures on election day. Additionally, Promo-LEX monitors the financing of electoral campaigns and hate speech”. 

Why is election observation so important in Moldova? 

Nicolae Panfil: “Moldova is a state with a democracy still in the process of consolidation. Election observation is very important for a number of reasons. It enables the prevention of electoral violations; It holds electoral actors and public authorities accountable; it ensures transparency in campaign financing; and it creates equal opportunities for all electoral competitors through impartial monitoring and real-time information about the electoral process”. 

What risks did you foresee for this election, and did you end up encountering any of them? 

Nicolae Panfil: “We anticipated several risks, and a number of them materialized during the elections: 

  • External involvement in the elections as part of the hybrid war waged by the Russian Federation against the Republic of Moldova. This involvement manifested through the illegal financing of the electoral campaign and the organization of disinformation campaigns; 
  • Voter bribery through the provision of goods and financial rewards in exchange for voting for a certain option; 
  • The danger of dividing society by competitors using hate speech and socially divisive messages based on geopolitical and identity criteria; 
  • The state’s still limited capacity to cope with the hybrid war and other threats to electoral integrity. In some cases, authorities did not prevent electoral corruption and disinformation, nor did they sanction hate speech and the involvement of religious institutions.” 

You can find out more about Promo-Lex on their website. Promo-Lex provided EaP CSF with pictures taken from their observation missions. You can see them in the gallery below. 

More from our “Meet our Members” series 

All eyes on Georgia and its European future

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The Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) fears that the accelerating erosion of democratic governance and European values in Georgia brings the country dangerously and, potentially, irreversibly close to Kremlin’s orbit.  

As warned by the EaP Index findings, 2024 brought upon Georgia an unprecedented series of alarming setbacks that contradict the aspirations of the Georgian people and the constitutional commitment to European integration enshrined in Article 78 of the Georgian Constitution. 

The decision of the Georgian Dream-led government on 28 November to suspend the EU accession process and reject EU budgetary support until the end of 2028 has sparked another wave of nationwide protests, lasting for several consecutive nights already. This decision, allegedly influenced by Russian interests, undermines the promise to pursue full integration by 2030 and betrays the will of the majority of Georgian citizens who continue to demand a European future. 

The protests have swiftly transformed into a full-blown crackdown on fundamental freedoms, with enforcement authorities forcibly dispersing protestors, beating and detaining hundreds of them.  

In light of these ongoing troubling developments, the EaP CSF Steering Committee: 

  • Stands firmly with Georgian civil society and the nationwide protest movement and all Georgian citizens, including students, academics, civil servants, non-governmental sector representatives, clerics, youth, and diaspora representatives who have united in their fight to uphold democratic principles and restore Georgia’s European path; 
  • Supports the leadership of President Salome Zourabichvili, Georgian diplomats, and other public servants who remain committed to the European future of Georgia, despite increasing political repression; 
  • Rejects the recognition of the results of the parliamentary elections held on 26 October, and endorses the European Parliament’s proposal to have the elections reorganised under international supervision and by an independent election administration;  
  • Welcomes the EU’s redirection of financial support (EUR 121 million) from the Georgian government to civil society, as proposed by former High Representative/ Vice President of the European Commission (HR/VP) Josep Borrell during the 18 November Foreign Affairs Council, and calls for the expansion of similar measures by EU Member States and the international community; 
  • Appreciates the support of newly appointed EU leaders, High Representative/Vice President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, who reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to standing with the Georgian people and their choice for a European future; 
  • Condemns the growing influence of Russian disinformation and authoritarian tactics adopted by the Georgian Dream, which aim to subvert Georgia’s sovereignty and undermine its democratic institutions.  

To reverse Georgia’s democratic backsliding, we urge: 

  • The Georgian authorities to cooperate with the EU and international partners to reorganise the parliamentary elections under international supervision with the support of an independent election administration;  
  • Following the re-run of the parliamentary elections, the Georgian government to immediately resume EU accession talks, uphold democratic freedoms, and align with the aspirations of its people for European integration; 
  • Following the re-run of the parliamentary elections, the Georgian Parliament to unconditionally withdraw the laws on “Transparency of Foreign Influence” and “Family Values and Protection of Minors” 
  • The Georgian authorities to immediately and effectively investigate all reported of cases of harassment, threats and violence against civil society, media and political opposition that occurred throughout 2024, including at the November-December 2024 protests; 
  • The European Union and Member States to intensify political and financial support for Georgian civil society, rights defenders and media workers, and to impose sanctions on individuals and entities involved in electoral fraud, vote manipulation, and intimidation of voters and observers, as well as state violence against protestors; this includes freezing assets, applying visa restrictions and imposing travel bans; 
  • The donor community to cease all financial support and development assistance programs directed toward Georgian ministries and government agencies and strengthen their support to local civil society in Georgia in a flexible manner as the needs emerge;  

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum remains unwavering in its solidarity with the people of Georgia who continue to resist tyranny, fight for democracy and European values. We stand ready to assist Georgian civil society in restoring their country’s rightful place in the European family. 

The members of the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

Documents

Download the Statement “All eyes on Georgia and its European future” in PDF version here.

2024 EaP CSF Civil Society Award, Welcome Remarks

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We invite you to read the welcome remarks made by Mr Lasha Tugushi, Co-Chair of the EaP CSF Steering Committee and Ms Tania Marocchi, Director of the EaP CSF Secretariat at the opening of the 2024 EaP CSF Civil Society Award ceremony. More about the ceremony can be found here. For both speeches, the spoken words prevail.

Speech by Mr Lasha Tugushi, Co-Chair of the EaP CSF Steering Committee

“Distinguished representatives of civil society,  

Dear colleagues,  

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Welcome to the first edition of the Civil Society Summit of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum. 

I will start by expressing my highest gratitude to the Austrian government and the City of Vienna for hosting us today. 

Following the tradition set by its preceding 15 Annual Assemblies, this continues to be the largest event gathering civil society organisations from the Eastern Partnership and European Union countries.  

This year has been marked by crucial events in our region. Elections in Azerbaijan and parliamentary vote in Belarus consolidated the countries’ authoritarian regimes… as expected.   

At the same time, a referendum was held in Moldova, and Georgia. 

Because last month’s Georgian parliamentary elections were impactful as a referendum: people were to choose between a step towards the EU or a step back to Moscow. 

Moldova chose to continue its path towards European integration and, with Ukraine, will continue its talks with the European Union.  

The official opening of accession negotiations between the EU and Moldova and Ukraine, gave impetus to both countries’ internal reform agenda. 

For Georgia, the situation is less promising. The current crackdown on civil society further risks jeopardising the country’s path towards the EU.  

But Georgia remains a candidate country. And the window towards the EU should be kept open. Its vibrant civil society remains committed to enhance democracy, peace and stability. 

But this year’s elections warn us that Russia is now trying more than ever to interfere in our democratic systems.  

Their attempts to destabilize us through disinformation campaigns and security threats are a wake-up call that we need to continue to support civil society in their efforts through capacity building and funding. 

Civil society is a key player in promoting the fundamental reforms that are needed in all the Eastern Partnership countries. Both for the countries that are on the EU accession path and those that are not. 

Because only anchoring our countries, and their societies, to the European values will guarantee a European future. 

But it will depend on us. We will only be rewarded if we make the necessary reforms on Justice, freedom and security and Judiciary and fundamental rights.  

Public administration reforms, vetting process, meaningful participation of civil society in the decision-making processes, among others. 

Today, we are here to reiterate our strong support for the continuation of the Eastern Partnership policy.  

Since 2009, the Eastern Partnership policy has been successful in increasing the resilience of our region. It has taken up the role of a safeguard within the context of political turmoil and the geopolitical complexity exacerbated by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.  

But now, it is time for a revision of the policy:  a renewed commitment between the EU and its Eastern Partners. We need a ‘fundamentals-driven’ agenda that promotes the design and implementation of rule of law reforms in all Eastern Partnership countries. 

Despite all the challenges that remain in our conscience as the “Sword of Damocles,” we must persist in our mission, and support civil society in the reform agenda of all the Eastern Partnership countries.  

What matters is the will of their people. They strive for a more democratic present to secure a brighter, more European future.  

Our inspiration is the brave Ukrainian people who are fighting for all of us and a European future. 

Today marks 1000 days since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. I invite you all to observe one minute of silence to commemorate the innocent lives lost.  

Thank you.” 

Speech by Ms Tania Marocchi, EaP CSF Secretariat Director

“Thank you, Lasha, for this strong introduction into the key challenges that the EaP region is facing and into what the EaP CSF stands for. And thank you also to Martina and Klaus, for welcoming us in Austria’s beautiful Diplomatic Academy and for the MFA support. It’s been an honour for us to have your support for the organisation of the first edition of the EaP CSF Civil Society Summit, previously known as Annual Assembly. We hope that this will be stepping stone of closer cooperation with both the Academy and with the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Dear colleagues, dear friends, 

I am very happy to greet you all today on behalf of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum. I am happy to see so many new and familiar faces and I look forward to meeting all of you during the next two days. 

We just all stood together, in silence, in solidarity with our Ukrainian colleagues to mark one thousand days since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. While preparing my points for tonight I thought about the significance of this number.  

One thousand days, almost three years. 

One thousand days since the return of full-scale war to Europe, something that I and many others thought was unthinkable.  

One thousand days of people and families broken by loss, fear and trauma.  

One thousand days of fighting. Of acts of resistance, help, support, comforting others. 

Some nights, when I am putting my son to bed, in the still quietness of his room, my mind goes to the women of the maternity ward of the Hospital of Mariupol, their faces impressed in my mind forever, after seeing them on the news on 9 March 2022. Did they receive the support they needed? Were they able to find comfort in the arms of loved ones? Did the children who survived that day find safety and peace, or do they face new fears each night? Do the bereaved mothers and fathers who survived their children still have access the graves of their children?  

And beyond that hospital, how many people across Ukraine still hear the echoes of bombs and wonder if tomorrow will bring respite or more devastation? 

In this difficult context, Ukrainian civil society has led a truly heroic resistance, bringing comfort, support, and hope to the people of Ukraine, to its government and institutions, and to millions of people in Europe and in the world.  

We must stand not just as witnesses to history, but as individuals who refuse to look away. As people who take action.  

Let this moment be more than silence; let it be a call to action, inspired by the work that Ukrainian civil society carries out every day.   

At the EaP CSF, we tried our best to do our part. 

Since February 24, we have been calling for more military, financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, for stronger sanctions to Russia, for the seizing and selling of all assets of Russian oligarchs in Europe and their profits being used to fund Ukraine.  

We will continue working hard, together with all of you, for a peaceful, prosperous Ukraine until the end of the war. And we will continue working for a peaceful and prosperous EaP region,  

An EaP region where democracy prevails over authoritarianism 

Where human rights are respected,  

And where civil society can operate without fear and is included in all reform processes.  

Last December, following the strong messages included in our resolution of 2023, we stood before EU top leaders, and Foreign Ministers of EU Member States and EaP countries, urging their action and commitment to uphold democratic values, support reform, and stand firm against authoritarian threats. Since then, we continued to advocate tirelessly for these principle — seeking not only to maintain existing support, but to increase it and turn commitments into concrete actions. 

We appealed European leaders to open EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova and were very satisfied to see the first intergovernmental conference taking place in June this year. We kept advocating in support of Georgia’s European future and working in support of Georgian civil society, with public statements, organising workshops on security practices, leading a need assessment on their changed needs after the introduction of the Foreign agent law. We organised discussions on Armenia’s ongoing pivot to the EU, engaging with civil society, Armenian and EU leaders on how to proceed in this important direction.  

We have continued advocating for human rights, rule of law and sustainable reform. We have been vocal against the against Lukashenka’s regime continued crackdown on civil activists in Belarus and for continued support to civil society inside and outside the country. As we sit here together tonight, our colleagues and friends and many others remain unjustly held behind bars or under house arrest as we speak.  

Their names are Gubad Ibadoghlu, Anar Mammadli, Hafiz Babali, Aziz Orujov, Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, Ales Bialiatski, Viktar Babaryka, Maksim Znak, Marya Kalesnikava, Marfa Rabkova, Katsiaryna Bakhvalava, Maryna Zolatava.  

We kept calling for their unconditional release and for the release of all political prisoners in statements, public letters and private meetings. We will keep doing this until they are all liberated. 

Let me conclude here by quoting the words of Iranian lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi: “Without civil society, there is no democracy. Without democracy, there is no hope for freedom.” 

I am looking forward to meeting and talking to you and to continuing working closely together as partners. My wish for our Summit this year is for it to be an occasion to come together, hug old friends and meet new partners, but also an occasion to reflect together on the future of the EaP region, come up with new ideas and go home inspired that we can bring the EaP region closer to the peaceful, prosperous and stable European future we dream of.  

Thank you.”  

Resolution of the 1st EaP CSF Civil Society Summit

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The 1st EaP CSF Civil Society Summit (16th General Assembly) was held in Vienna, from the 19th to the 21st of November 2024. 

Recognising the role of civil society as a driving force for the reforms in the Eastern Partnership countries, the General Assembly of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum adopted its resolution which you can read below. You can also read the narrative report of the which was published following the 1st Eastern Partnership Civil Society Summit.

Resolution of the 2024 General Assembly of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum 

***  

We, the General Assembly of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF), recognising the role of civil society as a driving force for the reforms in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries, convene against a backdrop of political turmoil and geopolitical complexity exacerbated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which today enters its 1000th day, 

Recognising civil society’s role as watchdog of effective implementation of democratic reforms and constant interlocutor both inside the countries and across the region, that holds authorities accountable no matter what government is elected and regardless of the country’s level of engagement with the European Union (EU), 

EU’s Eastern Partnership 

Welcoming the new EU Institutions constituting following the first European elections since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and hoping that the new EU leadership and institutional set-up may pave the way to an updated Eastern Partnership agenda,  

Supporting the upcoming Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union to organise the 7th EaP Summit in 2025 – the first since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and since 2021 – laying the foundation for a revised post-2025 EaP policy, 

Reiterating EaP policy’s role as safeguard, anchoring the EaP countries and their societies to the EU regardless of the presence and type of bilateral agreement that each country has with the EU, 

Acknowledging the diversity of ambitions within the EaP region regarding European integration, with some EaP countries advancing in EU accession negotiations and others not currently seeking strong EU integration, 

Welcoming the European Parliament resolution of November 2023 on proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties following the Conference on the Future of Europe; noting that the prospect of future enlargements makes a reform of the Treaties inevitable in the context of unprecedented challenges and multiple crises, 

Stressing the importance of regional cooperation, both between the EU and EaP countries and among the EaP countries themselves, playing a vital role to advance shared goals and strengthen peace and stability in the region, 

Emphasising the importance of fundamental reforms in all six EaP countries and reaffirming our unwavering commitment to the EU fundamental values, which remain the cornerstone of our shared vision for a stable, prosperous EaP region, 

Stressing our engagement with the thematic priorities of the Working Groups of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum stemming from the Joint Staff Working Document (JSWD) “Recovery, resilience and reform: post 2020 Eastern Partnership priorities” as well as with the EaP CSF Strategy 2022-2030, 

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and destabilising role in the EaP region 

Stressing that Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine wages on, leaving behind colossal casualties among Ukrainians, unprecedented destruction of civil infrastructure, such as the barbaric attack to the Ohmadyt children’s hospital, energy facilities, supply chains and the environment as a result of systematic attacks. As well as documented occurrences of torture, rape and child abduction. Acknowledging that Russia’s actions form part of a wider pattern of aggression towards the EaP region and of a broader set of objectives against Western democratic values,  

Stressing that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues to be the main threat to the EaP countries; warning about Russia’s continued acts of extraterritorial violence, foreign interference, propaganda and hybrid threat in the EaP region, 

Reiterating that Ukraine’s integration into the EU remains central in the Union’s political agenda. Synergies between the EU and its Member States’ political will must be ensured to advance Ukraine’s accession talks and the country’s victory in the war of aggression, 

Noting that Russia continues to occupy 20 percent of Georgia’s territory in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia intensifying human rights violations, including the kidnapping of peaceful population, and continued discrimination, and depriving people of the right to education in their mother tongue. Russia promotes Georgian government’s actions to usher in Kremlin-style repressive laws, threatening the country’s EU path and fundamental freedoms. Russia persists in its occupation of the so-called Transnistria territory of the Republic of Moldova and has escalated its destabilising operations aiming to derail Moldova’s pro-European trajectory. Russia has strengthened its cooperation with Lukashenka’s regime and continues to fuel tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan,  

Shrinking civic space 

Warning about the continued intensified crackdown on civil society in Azerbaijan and Belarus; Azerbaijani presidential and parliamentary elections and Belarusian parliamentary vote consolidated Aliyev and Lukashenka’s regimes, 

Welcoming the European Parliament resolution of 25 April 2024 on Azerbaijan, notably the repression of civil society and the cases of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu and Ilhamiz Guliyev to urge Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release all other political prisoners, 

Warning about the dangerous short- and long-term consequences of Lukashenka’s regime and the promoted diplomatic isolation of Belarus from international cooperation mechanisms, including Belarus’ withdrawal from the EU’s Eastern Partnership, 

Expressing serious concerns over the conduct of Georgia’s legislative elections on 26 October 2024, marked by systemic manipulation, intimidation, and breaches in vote secrecy. Welcoming the EU announced mission to Georgia to investigate any irregularities in regard to the elections of 26 October 2024, 

Deploring the stigmatising impact of the ‘law on transparency of foreign influence’ in the run-up to the elections, as reported by numerous civil society organisations, together with incidents of attacks and intimidation, 

Warning about the current backlash on civil society by the Georgian government and recalling the urgent opinion issued by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe (CoE) of May 2024 on Georgia’s law on transparency of foreign influence, strongly recommending that the Georgian authorities abandon the special regime of registration, reporting and public disclosure requirements for civil society organisations, online media and broadcasters receiving foreign support, including administrative sanctions, 

EU negotiations and European aspirations 

Welcoming EU’s first Intergovernmental Conferences with Moldova and Ukraine, officially opening accession negotiations and reinforcing their bilateral relations with the EU. Trusting that this will provide impetus to both countries’ internal reform agenda; welcoming European Council’s decision to grant EU candidate status to Georgia on the understanding that the relevant steps are taken, 

Welcoming the outcome of presidential elections and EU accession referendum held in the Republic of Moldova that confirmed the European aspirations of its citizens; deploring the unprecedented anti-EU disinformation campaign and Russian interference. Welcoming the adoption of Reform and Growth Facility for Moldova to accelerate its reform process and boost socio-economic growth, 

Welcoming the Security and Defence Partnership between the EU and Moldova to strengthen cyber resilience; highlighting that the EU supported for the first time Armenia from the European Peace Facility to enhance the country’s resilience in case of possible future participation in international military missions and operations, 

Welcoming Armenian authorities’ political will and efforts to bring the country on a steadier EU integration path, and the launch of a visa liberalisation dialogue. Welcoming the launch work on a new EU-Armenia Partnership Agenda, establishing more ambitious joint priorities for cooperation across all dimensions. 

As delegates to the General Assembly of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum: 

Strengthening support for Ukraine  

  1. We continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, call on the EU, its Member States, and the international community, particularly NATO leaders, to take bolder decisions in continuing to provide political, humanitarian, military and financial support to Ukraine to achieve just and long-lasting peace, and to provide Ukraine with a clear timeline for NATO membership. 
  1. We call on the EU, its Member States, and the Ukrainian authorities to ensure participation of the Ukrainian civil society in the EU pre-accession, reconstruction processes and post-war green recovery of Ukraine as well as within the implementation of the Ukraine Facility and the Ukraine Plan.  
  1. We call on the international community to ensure accountability for the crimes committed by Russian authorities and military forces in Ukraine, and call on international prosecutors, including the International Criminal Court, to investigate and prosecute Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian health care system as both war crimes and crimes against humanity. 
  1. We urge international humanitarian organisations to establish and maintain a robust supply chain to continue to deliver medical equipment and supplies for affected hospitals and medical facilities, to provide humanitarian aid to communities in the combat zone and to support humanitarian demining. 
  1. We urge local and international media to continue to document strikes on civilian infrastructure and disseminate complete and objective information about the attacks by Russia.  
  1. We call on the EU and its Member States to: 
  • support Ukraine to restore electricity, heat and critical energy infrastructure, in particular ahead of the upcoming winter; 
  • strengthen physical protection of energy facilities in Ukraine, including nuclear power plants, from Russian attacks, and ensure nuclear safety; 
  • support Ukraine to build decentralised sustainable electricity and heating infrastructures. 
  1. We call on the EU to mobilise private EU investment to support Ukraine in rebuilding dispersed electricity and heat generation facilities. 
  1. We call on the EU to engage and provide equal opportunities for Ukrainian businesses in Ukraine’s recovery projects, aimed at supporting the country’s economy. 

The Eastern Partnership policy 

  1. We call on the EU, its Member States and EaP countries to continue the Eastern Partnership policy and promote the role of civil society therein, including the EaP CSF. The EaP policy ensures that the civil society and democratic forces of Belarus and Azerbaijan remain connected regionally with democratically minded peers. For Armenia, the EaP policy keeps supporting the promotion of democracy, peace, security and stability both bilaterally with the EU and regionally within the EaP and upholding its European aspiration. The policy brought the Association Trio countries closer to the EU and keeps supporting their internal reform agenda.  
  1. We call on the EU, its Member States and EaP countries to work towards a renewed post-2025 Eastern Partnership policy that continues to prioritise the broad aspect of security enhancing resilience and information sharing and joint response mechanism. The latter is a key mean to contribute to the overall security of the EaP region and to counter threats on disinformation. The broad aspect of security should include a comprehensive strategy to the Black Sea region, including energy and economic security. Civil society plays a key role in strengthening the ability of the EaP to boost their security resilience and should be actively involved.  
  1. We call on the EU and its Member States to expand EaP regional security cooperation to develop a human security approach that can directly contribute to democratisation, transparency, and accountability in policymaking, facilitating a transition towards governance models that prioritise the interests and involvement of all citizens. 
  1. We call on the EU and its Member States to address common challenges on democracy, good governance and stability, sustainable economic development, as well as improving energy and transport cooperation, protecting the environment and resolving conflicts, through a robust revised European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) within the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 being negotiated in 2025. 

Supporting an enabling environment for civil society and civil society’s participation in the EaP policy 

  1. We call on the EU, its Member States, and Eastern Partnership governments to support civil society’s expertise and involvement in the EaP policy at all levels through regular consultations, including via a dedicated Working Group on Civic Space within the Eastern Partnership policy. 
  1. We urge the Eastern Partnership countries to include civil society organisations in the design, implementation and assessment of national laws promoting public dialogue and discussions, deliberative and inclusive practices when discussing democratic reforms and to involve civil society in the EU pre-accession process. 
  1. We call on the EU and its Member States to counter the progressive shrinking and closing of civic space and to strengthen capacity building and institutional support in order to improve civil society’s abilities to contribute to policy dialogue to advance the reforms in the EaP countries. 
  1. We emphasise the obligation of EaP governments to uphold the fundamental rights of their citizens, comply with international standards and create an enabling environment for civil society at local, national and regional level. This includes removing legislative barriers for civil society to engage with regional and local authorities. 
  1. We call on the EU and its Member States to support the sustained operation of civil society actors in all EaP countries, including those forced to operate in exile, by providing consistent and reliable funding opportunities. 
  1. We deplore the current Georgian government’s intensified crackdown on civil society that severely undermines the ability of Georgian civil society to take part in civic dialogue, policymaking and consultations on matters related to the EU path. We call on the Georgian civil society to continue to stand up for its rights and freedoms and speak up against electoral irregularities, fraud and intimidation. 

Countering authoritarianisms and democracy deficiencies 

  1. We call on the international community to redouble efforts and step up their commitment to the build-up of democracy in Belarus and Azerbaijan. We urge the European Union to prioritise democratic governance, human rights, and the rule of law over short-term interests, including energy agreements and supplies, when engaging with EaP countries’ governments. We call on Azerbaijani authorities to repeal repressive legislation driving independent civil society organisations and media to the margins of the law. 
  1. We urge the EU Member States and the European Institutions to call for the release of all political prisoners in Azerbaijan and Belarus, leverage all available mechanisms to put pressure on the offending governments and stand in solidarity with them and their families. We call on increasing international pressure to unconditionally release all political prisoners in Azerbaijan – including EaP CSF Azerbaijani National Platform members, Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, Anar Mammadli, Hafiz Babali, Aziz Orujov, Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, and many others, such as female journalists Sevinj Vagifqizi, Elnara Gasimova, Nargiz Absalamova – and in Belarus, such as Ales Bialiatski, Viktar Babaryka, Maksim Znak, Marya Kalesnikava, Marfa Rabkova, Katsiaryna Bakhvalava, Maryna Zolatava. 
  1. We urge the Azerbaijani authorities to release the Armenian captives currently held behind bars in Azerbaijan. 
  1. We deplore the current shrinking of civic space in Georgia and smear campaigns targeting civil society and individuals, including the May 2024 Foreign Agent Law, that undermines democratic principles and jeopardises the country’s path towards the EU. Alongside the enactment of wide-ranging anti-LGBTQ+ law that prohibits fundamental rights and freedoms. We call on the Georgian authorities to immediately repeal restrictive laws that limit the work of civil society and independent media and ensure the freedom of speech and press. 

Supporting Belarusian civil society and Democratic Forces 

  1. We urge the leadership of the European Union, its Member States, and the EaP countries’ authorities to continue providing staunch political support to Belarusian civil society and Democratic Forces, and to draw a clear distinction between civil society in Belarus and Lukashenka’s regime. The EaP CSF Belarusian National Platform, civil society and the Belarusian democratic forces in the country and in exile should continue to be regarded as the interlocutors of the democratic Belarus in the relations with the EU, should remain included in the EaP initiative and connected regionally with democratically minded peers.  
  1. We call to speed up the formulation of joint actions aimed to halt repression, ensure the release and recovery of Belarusian political prisoners and support the country’s progression towards democratic integrity. This should be formulated in cooperation with Belarusian civil society and democratic actors. Over 1,300 people, including civil society representatives and journalists, remain behind bars for politically motivated reasons; this list is constantly being replenished with new political prisoners. We call on the EU and its Member States to put all efforts to release them. 
  1. We urge the EU Member States and international institutions to establish new formats to coordinate with Belarusian socio-political actors in international political processes and structures, along the good practice established by the EU Consultative Group with Belarusian civil society and democratic forces, including the coordination of assistance through the Senior Officials’ Meetings on Belarus, the Council of Europe Contact Group and the US – Belarus Strategic Dialogue. 
  1. We urge the EU Member States to revise the implementation of the Council Decision 2022/579 of 08 April 2022 (5), namely, to introduce exemptions for civil society organisations re-granting EU funds to Belarusian residents, alongside existing exceptions for UN agencies concerning cash payments.  
  1. We call on the EU and its Member States to observe the measures recommended by the International Labour Organization (ILO) governing body under the Article 33 of the ILO Constitution on the subject of Belarus. 
  1. We call on the EU and its Member States to promote policies fostering international mobility for Belarusian students and scholars into international educational and cultural programmes, and to continue supporting programmes promoting democratic values to counter Lukashenka’s authoritarian indoctrination. 

Supporting EU enlargement and European aspirations 

  1. We call on the EU and its Member States to push forward a ‘fundamentals’ driven agenda in all engagements with the EaP countries, both with those on the enlargement path and those that do not currently seek strong EU integration. Particular emphasis should be put on reforms in the areas of judiciary, notably on fight against corruption, and fundamental rights, and justice, freedom and security. 
  1. We call on the EU, its Member States, and Moldovan and Ukrainian authorities to open the ‘fundamentals’ negotiation cluster during the upcoming Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2025, and to accelerate the screening process of the chapters under the remaining clusters. 
  1. We urge the EU, the international community and all stakeholders, including the Georgian government, to support Georgia’s fight for democracy by ensuring that all Georgian citizens’ voices have been listened to and respected in regard to the 26 October elections. We call on the EU to condition any future financial aid to the Georgian government on electoral integrity and a trusted investigation of alleged systemic fraud during the legislative elections of 26 October 2024.  
  1. We reiterate that the future of Georgia is European. We call on the EU and its Member States to leave the door open for Georgia and to consider setting up a path to the opening of accession negotiations on the understanding that Georgian authorities deliver on democratic reforms as a candidate country. We call on the Georgian authorities to swiftly realign with European Union values and norms and recommit to Georgia’s EU path. 
  1. We call on the EU to intensify its dialogue with the Armenian government to facilitate further integration in light of Armenia’s explicitly articulated European aspirations towards a fully-fledged ‘3+1’ approach that includes the Trio Associated countries and Armenia. 
  1. We call on the EU to assess the readiness of the EU internal reform both politically and institutionally in view of EU future enlargements, in the wake of the proposed reform of the Treaties launched by the European Parliament in November 2023. 
  1. We call on the EU, its Member States, and the international community, to strengthen their efforts to support the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Eastern Partnership countries within their internationally recognised borders. 

Providing adequate assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) 

  1. We call on the EU Member States to provide support for refugees forced to leave Belarus for political reasons in the swift legalisation of their stay, their social integration and prevention of discrimination, and call on the respect of the principle of non-refoulement. 
  1. We remind the EU Member States about the importance of facilitating the relocation of EaP citizens at risk of political persecution, including civil society representatives, through visa support, job opportunities, educational and cultural opportunities. 
  1. We remind that over four million people from Ukraine benefit from the temporary protection mechanism following Russia’s full-scale invasion. We welcome EU Council’s decision to extend temporary protection until March 2026 for the Ukrainians fleeing from Russia’s war of aggression. We call on EU Member States to formalise its prolongation. 
  1. We call on the EU, its Member States and the donor community to provide necessary assistance to the over 120,000 Armenians who have been subject to enforced displacement from the former territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.  Azerbaijani authorities assert that Armenians can return to the region on the sole condition that they accept Azerbaijani citizenship; however, reliable security and protection guarantees are missing. We call on the Armenian and Azerbaijani authorities to finalise a lasting peace agreement putting to an end to decades-old conflict and recall the order of 17 November 2023 of the International Court of Justice. 

Cross-cutting priorities 

  1. We call on the EU Member States and EaP governments to prevent Russia from circumventing existing sanctions, further increase sanctions pressure on Russia and ensure appropriate counteraction to Russian propaganda in the EU and EaP countries. 
  1. We call on the EU and its Member States to ban all direct and indirect imports of Russian fossil fuels, including LNG. We call on EaP governments to put all efforts to rapidly reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and accelerate the green transition. 
  1. We urge EaP governments to strengthen measures to tackle gender-based violence, call on Armenian and Azerbaijani authorities to ratify the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention).  
  1. We urge EaP governments to strengthen measures for the social and labour inclusion of persons with disabilities in line with the UN Convention on Persons with Disabilities and the European Social Model. 
  1. We call on EaP governments to further promote reforms on digitalisation of Public Administration services to increase transparency, reduce red tape and improve citizens’ quality of life, including in rural areas. We call on the EaP countries to adopt measures to facilitate digital transformation of businesses, including Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and stress the need to support women’s participation in SMEs. 
  1. We call on EaP governments to actively engage with trade unions and social partners and respect social dialogue, trade union rights, freedom of association, right to collective bargaining as a cornerstone of democracy, in line with the European Social Model. 
  1. We call on EaP governments to integrate social justice principles into economic policies and reforms to address income inequality, advance gender equality and support migrant and informal workers. 
  1. We call on the EU to actively encourage EaP governments to involve civil society organisations, economic and social partners in the design and implementation of policies. This is particularly important to accelerate the green, Just Transition of businesses, including SMEs.  
  1. We stress the importance to stimulate connections between EaP countries’ SMEs and EU businesses, including through entrepreneurial networks. This would contribute to increase EaP SMEs’ competitiveness and enable them to benefit from the opportunities under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas established between the EU, and Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia respectively. 
  1. We call on the EU to continue supporting environment-related actions in the EaP countries and call on EaP governments to implement environmental protection policies on reducing carbon emissions, preserving biodiversity, improving public transportation, combating air, water and soil pollution to mitigate the effects of climate change. 
  1. We call on EaP governments to adopt reforms for a Just Transition to a green economy and environmentally friendly policies, promote energy security by investing in power grid connections and the use of renewable energy sources. 
  1. We call on EaP governments to ensure meaningful participation of young people in the design, implementation and assessment of youth policies, and to develop and promote safe and accessible youth spaces. Particular attention should be provided to young people in the most vulnerable situations, including, among others, young persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ and displaced young people.  
  1. We call on the EU to support EaP youth in mobility by strengthening programs such as Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps, ensuring full security of participants. 

Additional resources

Read the 2024 Resolution of the 1st Eastern Partnership Civil Society Summit in pdf format.

Read the narrative report of the 1st Eastern Partnership Civil Society Summit here.

2024 Civil Society Award goes to Journalism Resource Centre Georgia

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The 2024 Civil Society Award goes to Journalism Resource Centre Georgia for its persistent work to counter disinformation and contribution to a free, fair and independent media in Georgia amidst the crackdown in the context of the Foreign Agent Law. 

Founded in 2009 by Georgian journalist Natia Kuprashvili along with other independent journalists, the Journalism Resource Center (JRC) has been dedicated to supporting regional media and safeguarding independent community media in Georgia. Their work stems from the belief that strong local journalism is key to countering propaganda, particularly coming from Russia.  

To address propaganda and disinformation, the JRC launched TOK TV, Georgia’s only Russian-language broadcaster and developed the debunking application Fact or Fake to debunk false information. 

The JRC was actively targeted in 2023-2024 due to its active opposition to the Foreign Agent Law implemented by Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party. Ms Natia Kuprashvili, her family members as well as colleagues were the target of harassment and threats which have yet to be investigated. 

“Propaganda can only be countered through strong local journalism. Last month’s elections in Georgia illustrated, if there ever was a need, that truth and freedom of the press can protect us from authoritarianisms. This is particularly true in a country like Georgia where the media are controlled by oligarchs permeable to Russian propaganda. Journalists and civil society organisations working together can make a difference to provide fact-checked information and uphold democracy” said Natia Kuprashvili, Founder of Journalism Resource Centre who received the Award on behalf of the organisation. 

“In rewarding the work done by the Journalism Resource Centre, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum recognises the paramount role journalists play in combatting the false spread of information, and in the overall resistance to the so-called Foreign Agent Law introduced by the Georgian authorities. Faced with the rise of propaganda at a regional and global level, the fact-checking work and investigative work conducted by journalists is essential to provide citizens with the keys to understanding the powers at play and make enlightened political decisions. Supporting quality journalism contributes to the survival of democracy” declared Lasha Tugushi, Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum. 

About the Award 

Since its creation in 2018, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Award celebrates the outstanding and courageous work of organisations from the Eastern Partnership region. The Civil Society Award recognises civil society organisations’ daily commitment to defending core democratic values, advancing democratic reform, contributing to the political, economic and social development of their countries, and helping people and communities in vulnerable situations. It is delivered by the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum on behalf of its 1,200 civil society members. 

Previous awardees include: 

  • 2018 – Mr Davit Petrosyan (Armenia) for his courageous and instrumental leadership in mobilising youth and students in the context of Armenia’s 2018 street protests, eventually leading to the Velvet Revolution. 
  • 2019 – Promo-LEX (Moldova) for their outstanding and courageous work in the field of the political, economic and social development of their countries and defending core democratic values. 
  • 2020 – Belarusian Civil Society (Belarus) for its essential help to the victims of the repressions during the 2020 authoritarian repression in Belarus.  
  • 2022 – Ukrainian Civil Society (Ukraine) for their extraordinary mobilisation in support of the war effort, providing humanitarian aid, and alleviating suffering while continuing to support democratic reforms. 
  • 2023 – Belarusian Association of Journalists (Belarus) for their resolute commitment to independent journalism in Belarus, integrity in the defence of media freedom, democracy, and human rights even while faced with the harshest of oppressions. 
  • 2024 – Journalism Resource Centre (Georgia) for its persistent work to counter disinformation and contribution to a free, fair and independent media in Georgia amidst the crackdown in the context of the Foreign Agent Law. 

To find out more about the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Award, please check the dedicated document. You can also read the welcome remarks made at the opening ceremony.

Moldovan democracy: one more hurdle down 

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The Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum welcomes the outcome of the second round of the presidential elections in the Republic of Moldova. The result confirms Moldova’s commitment to join the European Union. We hope this vote will further boost the internal reform agenda following the official opening of EU accession negotiations last June. 

This result also shows Moldovans’ resilience despite serious foreign interference. The first round of the election on 20 October saw an “unprecedented assault” on the country’s democracy to quote President Maia Sandu. Pro-Russian vote-buying schemes were unearthed, and strong anti-EU messages were spread. Yesterday’s second round saw no difference: several voters reported receiving anonymous death threats to induce fear and disincentivise them from voting. Moreover, fake bomb threats targeting foreign polling stations on the election day attempted to disrupt the electoral process of the diaspora across Europe.  

These sabotage attempts on the voting process have not prevented Moldovans from voting. The determination and engagement of the more than 300,000 Moldovans in the diaspora must also be recognised. 

Two weeks ago, Moldovans already confirmed their European aspirations in a constitutional referendum on EU membership. Yesterday’s election confirms Moldova’s strong interest in joining the EU. The recently adopted European Commission’s 2024 Report confirmed that Moldova has made steady progress on its EU accession path. We therefore call on the Moldovan authorities to continue implementing the necessary changes to see a speedy Moldovan accession. 

We particularly call on the following actions: 

  • Moldovan authorities to pursue its “de-oligarchisation” efforts and implement a comprehensive justice reform and further advance in reforming the justice sector, particularly on the vetting process, 
  • The Moldovan authorities to put further efforts towards increasing meaningful participation of civil society in the decision-making processes, 
  • The EU and Moldovan authorities to open the “fundamentals” negotiation cluster during the upcoming Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union next year,  
  • The EU Institutions to continue building resilience to hybrid threats and disinformation in the framework of the EU-Moldova Security and Defence Partnership and strengthen cooperation with the country in the fields of strategic communication, support for journalists and civil society, 
  • The EU and its Member States to ensure speedy negotiation of the Reform and Growth Facility for Moldova within the Moldova Growth Plan and urge them to start the Facility as soon as possible to accelerate Moldova’s reform process and boost socio-economic growth. 

The relatively weak mandate obtained in the referendum risks undermining Moldova’s fragile resilience against foreign interference. Pro-Russian opposition is ready to exploit narrow referendum result to fuel the anti-Western propaganda ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections. Despite pro-Russian candidate vowed not to oppose European integration, the risk of a parliament not having the power to advance on the internal reform agenda stemming from the country’s EU commitment remains high. 

It is therefore particularly essential for the EU and the international community to stand behind Moldova to support its ambitious reform agenda. 

The Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

Available documents

Download the Statement on this link.

EaP CSF Steering Committee calls for non-recognition of rigged elections in Georgia 

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Brussels, 28 October 2024: The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) Steering Committee is expressing its concerns over the conduct of Georgia’s legislative elections on 26 October 2024.

“We call for the non-recognition of these election results by the international community, until an impartial investigation is conducted. The 2024 elections in Georgia, held for a first time under a fully proportional system, were intended to increase democratic representation and transparency. However, reports from civil society, as well as both local and international observers, show that the process was deeply flawed with systemic manipulation, voter and observer intimidation, breaches in vote secrecy, and political bias of the Central Election Committee (CEC), among many other issues.” said Lasha Tugushi, EaP CSF Steering Committee Co-chair.  

Vulnerable groups, minorities, public sector employees, and citizens in rural areas were particularly targeted by the ruling Georgian Dream party, that allegedly secured more than 50% of the votes.  

In this context, President Salome Zourabichvili’s call for public mobilization to protest the election results marks an initial step in contesting the legitimacy of these elections. 

We, the EaP CSF Steering Committee members, stand in solidarity with the people of Georgia in their fight for a democratic and transparent society, and a European future. We urge all stakeholders, including the Georgian government, the EU and the international community, to support Georgia’s fight for democracy by ensuring that all Georgian citizens’ voices have been listened to and respected during the 26 October elections.  

Therefore, we call on:  

  • International and EU Election observation missions: to publish comprehensive reports and make clear and unambiguous statements detailing all observed irregularities during both pre-election period and election day, thus providing a transparent picture of the scale of alleged electoral fraud; following elections, to launch an independent audit of the election results, looking into the integrity of CEC electronic voting procedures, vote tallying, and reported instances of electoral misconduct;  
  • International community, including EU and US Institutions: to call for more accountability and non-recognition of election results until a thorough investigation is made;  
  • US government: to impose sanctions on individuals and entities involved in electoral fraud, vote manipulation, and intimidation of voters and observers via the MEGOBARI Act; this includes freezing assets, applying visa restrictions and imposing travel bans; 
  • EU institutions: to condition any future financial aid to the Georgian government on electoral integrity, and the investigation of alleged systemic fraud during the legislative elections of 26 October 2024;  
  • EU Member States: to engage in diplomatic pressure on Georgia by intensifying diplomatic efforts, including by summoning Georgian ambassadors for consultations and issuing strict unanimous statements to hold the Georgian government accountable for election misconduct; 
  • Georgian courts and judicial system: to commit to investigate all reported cases of electoral fraud and prosecute those involved in a timely manner, regardless of their political affiliation; 
  • Georgian authorities: to immediately repeal restrictive laws that limit the work of civil society and independent media, such as the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, and ensure the freedom of speech and press; 
  • Georgian civil society organisations: to continue to stand up for their rights and freedoms and speak up against electoral irregularities, fraud and intimidation; seek international support and protection to ensure that CSO activities are safeguarded against state harassment or restrictions. 
  • Donor community: to strengthen their support to local civil society in Georgia in a flexible manner as the needs emerge, particularly in light on allegedly fraudulent elections and the consequences they may have for the independent CSO and media sectors.  

Members of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Steering Committee  

Additional resources

You can download the statement using this link.