First Reading of the Riigikogu Draft Statement "On the Crisis of Democracy in Georgia" (449 AE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session.
Date: 2024-06-11 13:02
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 79
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 23m
AI Summaries: 79/79 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated in its first reading Draft Resolution 449, "On the Crisis of Democracy in Georgia," submitted by 44 members of the Parliament. The presentation was given by one of the initiators of the draft, Eerik-Niiles Kross (Reform Party), who stressed that Estonia is a long-time friend of Georgia, but the recent steps taken by the Georgian government, especially the adoption of the controversial foreign agents law, are moving the country away from the European value space and closer to Russia's sphere of influence. Kross argued that diplomacy has been exhausted and the European Union should implement concrete measures, such as freezing aid, suspending visa-free travel, and imposing sanctions against government members, to support the pro-European course of the Georgian people (85% of whom support EU membership).
The discussion was tense, with several opposition politicians (e.g., Lauri Laats, Varro Vooglaid, Vadim Belobrovtsev) criticizing the resolution as an undignified interference in Georgia's internal affairs and accusing its proponents of double standards, citing similar regulations in the USA and the EU. Kross and other supporters (e.g., Tõnis Lukas, Riina Solman) countered that intervention is justified because Georgia is violating the commitments it undertook for accession to the European Union. Luisa Rõivas, representing the Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the committee's decisions, noting that three amendments proposed by the Social Democratic Party faction were taken into account (two fully, one partially). The draft resolution passed the first reading and was forwarded for the final vote.
Decisions Made 3
The Riigikogu adopted Draft 449 of the Riigikogu Statement "On the Crisis of Democracy in Georgia" (57 votes in favor, 13 against).
The Riigikogu supported amendment No. 1, which was submitted by the Social Democratic Party faction (54 in favor, 7 against).
The Riigikogu supported the Estonian Reform Party faction's proposal to extend the sitting until the agenda was exhausted, but no later than 2:00 PM (53 in favor, 7 against).
Most Active Speaker
Eerik-Niiles Kross (Reform Party, right-wing) was the most active speaker, presenting the draft resolution, answering 11 questions, defending the necessity of the statement, and justifying the criticism leveled against the Georgian government's actions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu is beginning the first reading of Draft Statement 449 concerning the crisis of democracy in Georgia. Eerik-Niiles Kross will serve as the rapporteur.
Eerik-Niiles Kross
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Eerik-Niiles Kross claims that Georgia has been leaning toward Russia in recent years and that its level of democracy has declined. He argues that even though Estonia has supported Georgia for a long time, the European Union should strictly adhere to the agreed-upon conditions, including freezing Georgia’s visa-free regime and implementing sanctions against government members if the country fails to return to a Western course.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi expressed his thanks for the highly knowledgeable and informative presentation and then invited Aleksandr Tšaplõgin to answer the questions.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He questions the legitimacy of the Georgian parliamentary elections and asks what there even is to discuss in this debate.
Eerik-Niiles Kross
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Kross stated that the Georgian elections were held and were thus legitimate, despite the fact that European institutions assessed them as not being free. The opposition refuses to recognize the results and has been blocking the parliament since 2021, but we recognize the Georgian parliament as the legitimate representative of the people.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski to speak.
Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The speaker asks how Georgia’s recent political developments might influence its participation in the Eastern Partnership project, and whether Georgia will continue with the project at all.
Eerik-Niiles Kross
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Eerik-Niiles Kross notes that the implementation of the law planned by the Georgian government may restrict civil society, potentially leading the European Union to freeze cooperation projects, and he emphasizes the need for dialogue. However, his recommendation has been to avoid touching upon the NATO topic, even though Georgia is a NATO candidate country that hopes to gain membership someday, and the question of its alliance status is currently uncertain.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi calls upon Tanel Kiik to speak.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik asks why the situation in Georgia is being treated as a pseudo-problem, even though Russia's intervention is proven and the international community has taken notice.
Eerik-Niiles Kross
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Eerik-Niiles Kross notes that since 2018, attempts have been made to hold diplomatic negotiations to resolve issues related to the Georgian presidential elections, but no agreement has been reached, and diplomacy, sanctions, and the freezing of aid have failed to yield results. Therefore, we have decided that there is no longer any point in negotiating, although at least the effort was made.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is a brief request: to call Andre Hanimägi.
Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Andre Hanimägi recalls how close the friendship between Estonia and Georgia has been, noting that we supported Georgia during the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, and asks why the foreign minister is now speaking out against the Georgian government and what is actually hoped to be achieved with this statement.
Eerik-Niiles Kross
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
We are still doing this as friends of Georgia, because I have seen the 2008 Russian tanks in real life, the Estonian team has done so much for Georgia, and since 85% of the Georgian population supports the European Union and Ukraine, we are doing this for their people.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi calls upon Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He thanks and affirms Georgia's friendship, hoping that it will continue in the future, but doubts whether the Estonian parliament would continue the friendship in the same way with such a statement, and finally asks whether any other EU country's parliament has adopted a similar statement addressed to Georgia.
Eerik-Niiles Kross
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He stresses that friendship must be held to a higher standard of honesty than enmity, and although the processing of the statement is regrettable and painful, the only way forward lies in broad-based discussions within the European Union Parliament and EMPA, which is scheduled to convene the week after next.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi calls upon Mart Maastik to speak.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik asserts that the government ignores the people (citing the Georgian foreign agents law and the Estonian car tax). He inquires about the plan to launch a statement titled "The Crisis of Democracy in Estonia," and seeks to understand how he defines the democratic path, as well as whether the claim that diplomacy is no longer effective constitutes, in his opinion, an achievement of diplomacy.
Eerik-Niiles Kross
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Eerik-Niiles Kross notes that the failure of Western diplomacy began following the events of the Georgia conflict in 2009 and with the "reset" agreement. He emphasizes that final decisions must be made by the people of Georgia themselves, that tax issues are not subject to a popular vote, and that external processes cannot be controlled.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Varro Vooglaid to take the floor.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid stated that interference in the internal affairs of foreign countries is inappropriate, and he highlighted double standards by referencing the US FARA and the Georgian regulation. He further stressed that Estonia ought to have a similar registration or regulatory system.
Eerik-Niiles Kross
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Eerik-Niiles Kross stresses the importance of protecting Georgia's sovereignty and argues that the foreign agents law is designed to restrain Georgian civil society and diminish external influence, drawing a comparison with US legislation. He further warns that excessive rhetoric and comparisons risk Georgia losing its allies and drifting toward Putin's Russia.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Aleksei Jevgrafov to the stage.
Aleksei Jevgrafov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He acknowledges that Estonian-Georgian relations have been good, but notes that the statement in question is creating tensions, and asks whether things are going so well in Estonia that we have the right to instruct others on how to behave, how to live, and what decisions they should adopt.
Eerik-Niiles Kross
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Eerik-Niiles Kross notes that the Georgian law, according to the assessment of the Venice Commission, is in conflict with international law and human rights norms and must be repealed, not revised. Therefore, Georgia cannot join the European Union alongside us, even though Estonia continues to promote democracy and friendship with Georgia, without dictating how they should live.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Margit Sutrop to speak.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop uses this statement to express profound sorrow and a personal attachment to the Georgian issue. She then asks what the Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to Georgia can do going forward, and how she can effectively operate if she holds the same mandate in Armenia, whether the relationship between Armenia and Georgia is strained, what diplomatic opportunities she foresees, and finally, whether this statement will make Riina Kaljurand's life easier or more difficult.
Eerik-Niiles Kross
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Eerik-Niiles Kross says that the frankness of the statement might, in some ways, make diplomacy easier, that the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) is, in some sense, a bad cop, but that this shouldn't cause relations with Armenia to worsen, because the statement is softer than US sanctions, and he hopes that it will become part of the broader response from Western nations and Europe, and he is not worried if relations deteriorate, because such a deterioration would be justified.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi invited Kalle Grünthal to the stage.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal criticized the interference of states in each other's internal affairs, using a personal analogy that it is just as inappropriate as rearranging someone else's home. He then questioned why a statement that only further exacerbates the escalating global situation would be made at all if it serves absolutely no purpose.
Eerik-Niiles Kross
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
This speech uses a metaphor to describe the situation in Georgia: for years, you’ve come to me asking for advice, promising to follow it and behave civilly, but in the end, you haven’t listened, and now you claim you no longer want to be among civilized people.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The discussion features a duel of metaphors, and Riina Solman is next to ask a question.
Eerik-Niiles Kross
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Eerik-Niiles Kross says that de-escalation is a very hot topic nowadays, and sometimes you actually have to counter-escalate, adding that in the current situation, the worse it gets, the better.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Riina Solman to speak.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman stressed that the statement made regarding the crisis of democracy in Georgia is necessary for upholding the democratic world order, and that important matters must be stated frankly, even though doing so causes awkwardness and raises questions about intervention.
Eerik-Niiles Kross
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Eerik-Niiles Kross said that Georgia's dialogue with the world is long-term and necessary to prevent Georgia from drifting into Moscow's sphere of influence, and it is in Estonia's interest to keep Georgia within our value space, which is fueled by statements regarding Ukraine and steps that shape the attitude of the international community.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Lauri Laats will likely conclude the round of questions.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats expressed his respect for Georgia's democratic and pro-European future, but raised the question of whether freezing development cooperation with Georgian state institutions and using the freed resources to support Georgian civil society means that Estonia would be funding NGOs that could potentially work against the government.
Eerik-Niiles Kross
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Civil society, however, consists of more than just NGOs, and this is decided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the aid agencies; there may be cultural events, but the Georgian government has adopted an anti-European Union integration stance, and therefore an EU member state cannot cooperate with it in terms of aid.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech concludes with thanks, there are no questions, and Luisa Rõivas, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, outlines the discussion and the decisions reached by the lead committee.
Luisa Rõivas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The Riigikogu accepted the draft declaration of the Riigikogu, which had been submitted on June 3, into proceedings. They designated the Foreign Affairs Committee as the leading committee and set the deadlines for submitting amendments. Members of the Social Democratic Party faction subsequently submitted three amendments. The Foreign Affairs Committee then decided by consensus to fully incorporate two of these amendments and partially incorporate one, while also proposing one clarifying amendment of its own. After the language editor made the necessary corrections, the intention was to include Draft Declaration 449 on the plenary agenda for June 11 and hold the final vote. Luisa Rõivas was appointed as the representative of the leading committee.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanks the participants and invites the audience to ask questions, while also asking Aleksandr Tšaplõgin to present his question.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He asks whether the commission discussed the legitimacy of the Georgian authorities, and if the Georgian parliament and government are legitimate, why should we interfere in their internal affairs.
Luisa Rõivas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
At the June 5th session, there was no discussion regarding the issue of legitimacy, but the extraordinary session addressed the proposed amendments, which were adopted by consensus.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi called upon Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev voiced concern that the adoption of the draft bill could further strain relations between Estonia and Georgia, and questioned whether the bill's initiators grasped this, despite viewing the two nations as friendly and strategic partners.
Luisa Rõivas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
I did not discuss personal feelings during the committee session, but I agree with you that Estonia has been a great friend to Georgia—in the past, now, and certainly in the future. Furthermore, this draft statement will undoubtedly support our relationship with Georgia going forward.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Lauri Laats to the stage.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats criticizes the explanatory memorandum of the draft bill due to its lack of substance and analysis. He points out that the memorandum is only 164 words long and asks how the freed-up funds will benefit Georgian civil society, and whether this matter has been discussed in the committee.
Luisa Rõivas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Luisa Rõivas said that the issue had not been discussed in the committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decides the transfer of the funds, and we are not committing anti-government acts with this, but I support the democratic state of Georgia.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid asks whether the Riigikogu statement endorses interference in Estonia's internal affairs originating from other countries, and whether the necessity of a lobby register—similar to the Georgian law—was discussed in light of European Union regulations and FARA-like requirements.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Varro Vooglaid to take the floor.
Luisa Rõivas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rõivas notes that different parliaments can issue different statements, and this is democratically legitimate. Furthermore, if a different statement is desired, it is possible to gather votes and submit them to the Riigikogu.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi asks for the microphone to be returned to colleague Varro Vooglaid.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
In the second question, it was asked why Georgia cannot introduce such a regulation through its democratically elected parliament, when the European Union intends to introduce similar regulations for member states and the United States has already implemented it.
Luisa Rõivas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Luisa Rõivas said that the topic was not discussed in a separate committee, but the rapporteur had already answered the question earlier.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Deputy Chairman invites Aleksei Yevgrafov to take the floor.
Aleksei Jevgrafov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Aleksei Jevgrafov asks the commission whether the same statement regarding Georgia has been made by other countries, such as EU member states, or if we are always the ones leading the charge.
Luisa Rõivas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He thanks for the question, confirms that the topic was not discussed, and although no one else has made a similar statement, we have been very progressive in many areas in Estonia, and perhaps we will lead the way this time.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi called upon Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to speak.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He/She describes that Estonia plans to freeze development cooperation with Georgian state institutions and redirect the released funds to support Georgian civil society. This move could potentially create a conflict with the policies of the state institutions and requires clarification on how it will be implemented in practice.
Luisa Rõivas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Estonia has supported Georgia's accession to the European Union, and if Georgia does not wish to proceed, it is appropriate to include a specific clause regarding that. The utilization of funds will become clear when the moment arrives, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is handling the decision-making process.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi offered his thanks, announced that there were no further questions, opened the discussions, and invited Lauri Laats to speak on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party faction.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats expressed deep concern about the future of the Estonian-Georgian friendship and called for a pause on the draft bill to allow for thorough consideration. He also urged the involvement of several ministries and international think tanks, because, in his assessment, the current text was hastily prepared, politically charged, and lacks an adequate description of the situation or any reference to the positions of allies.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi requests three more minutes.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats stressed that verified and accurate information forms the unified basis for the European Union and NATO, and warned that a hasty statement would devalue the work of the parliament. He requested organizing a comprehensive debate, which would include involving diplomats, experts, and allies, as well as hearing the views of Georgia, to ensure the coherence of foreign policy and, if necessary, hold an extraordinary summer session dedicated to Georgia's future.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi expresses his thanks, gives the floor to Ester Karus, and states that he is representing the Social Democratic Party faction on its behalf and by its mandate.
Ester Karuse
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Since 2004, Estonia has supported Georgia’s journey toward the European Union and NATO, and also stood by Georgia during the Russian aggression in 2008. Nevertheless, Estonia expressed concern regarding the Georgian government’s adherence to its commitments and European values, emphasizing that further accession negotiations and sanctions must be addressed at the level of the Council of the European Union, thereby showing respect to the Georgian people.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The address conveyed profound gratitude, and Tõnis Lukas subsequently made a request on behalf of the Isamaa faction.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that Estonia has historically chosen the West and considers Georgia’s accession to the European Union to be the right move, warns against Russia’s influence, and stresses that the European Union must maintain a common value space.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi requests three additional minutes.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas stresses that unanimity must be maintained within the European Union, warns against the dangers of Russian influence, and calls on the Riigikogu to exercise moderation in foreign policy. However, he simultaneously emphasizes the necessity of issuing a statement to protect Georgian democracy and support Georgia's aspirations for accession to the European Union.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked everyone, closed the discussions, announced that four amendments had been submitted regarding the draft bill and that they would now proceed to review them, and stated that the submitter of the first amendment was the Social Democratic Party faction and that the lead committee's position was to fully take it into account. Lauri Laats, please.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats wanted to vote on the amendment.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced that preparations for voting on amendment proposal No. 1, within the scope of draft bill 449, were commencing, and asked his colleagues to cast their votes, noting that the proposal had been submitted by the Social Democratic Party faction and that the lead committee wished to fully take it into consideration.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu adopted the amendments and is proceeding with preparations for the final vote on Bill 449, concerning which 44 members of the Riigikogu submitted a parliamentary statement titled "On the Crisis of Democracy in Georgia."
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu passed Bill 449, and the Presidium is preparing to vote on the Reform Party faction's proposal to extend today's sitting until the agenda is exhausted, but no later than 2:00 PM.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced that the draft legislation received 53 votes in favor, 7 against, and there were no abstentions. Furthermore, today's sitting has been extended until the agenda is exhausted, but no later than 14:00.