Five Austrian Members of the European Parliament are demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Georgian opera singer and opposition politician Paata Burchuladze. The statement was signed by Helmut Brandstätter, Anna Stürgkh, Reinhold Lopatka, Lukas Mandl, and Andreas Schieder.
The MEPs stated that Burchuladze—a world-renowned Georgian bass and former UN Goodwill Ambassador—was arrested on politically motivated charges.
“Paata Burchuladze is not only an outstanding singer, but also a patriot and a champion of democracy who stood up to defend Georgia’s European future. That is precisely why the Ivanishvili regime threw him behind bars, turning him into a political prisoner,” the statement reads.
According to the MEPs, the Georgian Dream authorities, following the example of Putin and Lukashenko, are brutally cracking down on peaceful demonstrators in Georgia, assaulting journalists, and planning to outlaw opposition parties.
The authors of the appeal demand the immediate and unconditional release of not only Burchuladze, but all political prisoners in the country. They also urge the authorities to cease the persecution of the opposition, civil society, and independent media, and to steer Georgia back onto a democratic and European path.
“The European Parliament will continue to stand with the Georgian people, who have demonstrated exceptional courage in defense of democracy,” the MEPs stressed.
