The French, German and Polish Foreign Ministers condemned the "disproportionate" use of force against protestors in Georgia, according to their joint statement released on Friday.
"We strongly condemn the disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters as well as the targeting of the opposition and media representatives. We deplore raids of offices of opposition parties and civil society organizations, arrests of members of political opposition and call for their immediate release. Fundamental rights, including freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, must be upheld and protected as per Georgia's Constitution and international commitments," the ministers said in the statement.
The ministers also expressed their "regret" about Georgia's ruling party's decision to halt the European Union accession talks, which they said "glaringly contradicts the European aspirations of the Georgian people." They also noted that they would add this matter to the agenda of the next Foreign Affairs Council.
