Georgia has withdrawn from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, an organisation committed to defending human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe.
The decision follows disagreements between Georgia and the assembly regarding the recent parliamentary elections in the country, as reported by Georgian news agency Interpress. Vice Prime Minister Thea Tsulukiani stated: "As of today, we are ending our work within the Parliamentary Assembly."
Earlier, the assembly had called for new parliamentary elections, the release of political prisoners, and a renewed commitment to a pro-European direction. Tsulukiani rejected the initiatives, labelling it an interference in Georgia's internal affairs.
As a result, Tbilisi has decided to suspend its cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The country does, however, remain a member of the Council.
Georgia has been experiencing a deep political crisis since the parliamentary elections on 26 October, officially won by the ruling party, Georgian Dream. The opposition claims there was electoral fraud.
Pro-Russian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced at the end of November that EU membership discussions were suspended, leading to widespread protests across the country.