Georgia remains at an early stage of preparation in the area of judiciary and fundamental rights, with further backsliding recorded for the third consecutive year, according to the European Commission’s 2026 Enlargement Report.
The report states that no reforms were undertaken to address the Commission’s and Venice Commission’s recommendations on judicial reform. The independence, impartiality and integrity of the judiciary remain seriously undermined, while legislative amendments adopted in December 2025 have further increased concerns about political influence and judicial capture. The Commission also expressed concern over harsh and disproportionate sentences imposed on protesters, warning that the judiciary risks being instrumentalised as a tool of repression.
Regarding the fight against corruption, Georgia has some level of preparation, but made no progress during the reporting period. The report highlights the absence of an anti-corruption strategy and action plan since 2020, concerns over the institutional independence of anti-corruption functions following the abolition of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, and the lack of progress on de-oligarchisation. It also warns that entrenched oligarchic influence continues to contribute to state capture and undermine democratic consolidation.
The European Commission said its previous recommendations remain unimplemented and called on Georgia to carry out comprehensive judicial reform, strengthen the independence of anti-corruption institutions, adopt and implement an anti-corruption strategy, improve whistle-blower protection and take systemic measures to address oligarchic influence.
