In the wake of Russia's gross violation of international law, its attack on Ukraine and its use of deadly weapons against civilians, the Georgian Prime Minister has announced that he does not intend for Georgia to join the financial and economic sanctions imposed on Russia. Also, the ruling party rejected an extraordinary session of parliament on the issue of Ukraine.

The signatory organizations unequivocally oppose and condemn the Prime Minister's statement, as it does not express the spirit of the Georgian nation, does not serve its interests and cannot be justified by the so-called Russia’s non-irritation policy.

It should be noted that the Prime Minister's statement was issued on February 25, when Georgia remembers with pain, 101 years ago, the invasion of Soviet Russia in 1921 and the fall of the First Georgian Republic, which resulted in 70 years of loss of independence and terror, human rights abuses, brutal repressions, destruction of Georgia's intellectual elite.

For Ukraine, Georgia's friend and strategic ally, the separation of Georgia from Western unity at this difficult time is a direct blow to the country's security and history will assess this as a dishonorable act. At the same time, it will be perceived as a betrayal of the country's strategic partner and friend that is now in an unequal battle against the enemy.

The Prime Minister's statement does not reflect the opinion of the Georgian society, which at the large-scale rallies in support of the people of Ukraine on February 24 clearly stated which side of history it wants to be.

Respectively, we call on the Georgian authorities:

• Stand by the anti-Russian Western alliance;
• Establish a security plan for Georgia with the help of country's Western strategic partners;

Signatory organizations:

• International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)
• Transparency International - Georgia (TI)
• Media Development Fund (MDF)
• Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS)
• Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF)
• Atlantic Council of Georgia
• Georgian Court Watch
• Prevention for Progress
• Partnership for Human Rights (PHR)
• Georgian Democratic Initiative (GDI)
• Human Rights Center
• Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC)
• Democracy Research Institute
• Institute for Democracy and Safe Development (IDSD)
• Social Justice Center