The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee has called for coordinated EU-wide sanctions against Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili and the broader Georgian Dream leadership, warning that Georgia is in rapid descent into authoritarian rule and that any EU engagement with Tbilisi must be strictly conditional on verifiable democratic reforms, the committee announced on May 5.

The report, adopted by 53 votes to 14 with two abstentions, reiterates the European Parliament's non-recognition of the legitimacy of Georgia's parliament and the president appointed by it, and calls for the release of all political prisoners, including Sakharov Prize laureate Mzia Amaglobeli, whose continued imprisonment it said was fundamentally incompatible with Georgia's obligations under the EU-Georgia Association Agreement.

Rapporteur Rasa Juknevičienė of Lithuania said Georgia continued its rapid descent into authoritarian rule, with Georgian Dream intensifying repression against opposition parties, independent media and civil society while systematically dismantling democratic institutions. She called on EU member states, including the successor of Hungary's government, to lift the blockade on targeted measures against Ivanishvili and his associates.

The report also expressed concern over Georgia's potential role in circumventing EU sanctions on Russia, calling for full alignment with EU restrictive measures and transparent cooperation to prevent sanctions evasion involving dual-use goods, oil exports and financial flows linked to Russian and Iranian entities.

MEPs urged all EU countries to adopt asset freezes and visa bans targeting those responsible for state capture, repression and regime-sponsored propaganda. The report will now go to a vote in the full European Parliament.