On May 26, Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister of Poland, and Friedrich Merz, the Chancellor of Germany, issued a joint statement on Georgia’s Independence Day, reaffirming their unwavering support for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while condemning the Georgian government’s retreat from democratic principles.
In their message, Macron, Tusk, and Merz emphasized their support for "the democratic and European aspirations of the Georgian people," describing these ambitions as an expression of the nation’s desire to join the European family. At the same time, they sharply criticized the Georgian authorities for actions undermining democratic norms and targeting civil society, independent media, and government critics.
The European leaders stressed that "freedom of expression and freedom of assembly must be guaranteed," calling for thorough investigations into reported excessive use of force and urging a review of legislation inconsistent with European standards. They demanded the resumption of essential reforms, the restoration of dialogue with the opposition and civil society, and cautioned that "the Georgian people should not be deprived of the opportunities offered by the country’s European path."
In response, Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, reacted via social media, denouncing the statement from Macron, Tusk, and Merz as a "shameful attack on the Georgian people and the Georgian state on their national holiday."