A Council of Europe monitor warned the former Soviet republic of Georgia on Friday that it could be expelled from the continent's chief human rights body if it does not heed the group's recommendations in the coming months.
"Georgia is not fulfilling its commitments before the Council of Europe," council rapporteur Matyas Eorsi said in a sharp statement after a three-day visit to the Caucasus Mountain nation, where President Eduard Shevardnadze is under pressure from vocal opponents.
"The government believes that it can only satisfy Council of Europe standards by adopting new laws," Eorsi said. "Passing laws is important, of course, but it should not be forgotten that the most important thing is not their adoption but their implementation. It's time for the authorities to understand that you cannot provide for forward movement with empty pieces of paper."
Eorsi did not discuss the perceived shortcomings in detail, but said that if Georgia does not fulfill the council's recommendations by the time of the group's next visit in June, it could be expelled.
He said the most recent presidential and parliamentary elections were marred by many violations and said the lack of trust between the government and the nation's political parties ion the run-up to autumn parliamentary elections is disturbing.
Eorsi also criticized what he said were cases of persecution of religious minorities, saying those responsible for attacks motivated by religious prejudice must be punished.
He said that when religious groups such as the Jehovah's Witnesses and Hare Krishna members feel comfortable ion Georgia, it will be a sign that democratic reforms are making progress.
Followers of a defrocked Georgian Orthodox priest have frequently attacked Jehovah's Witnesses, disrupted their meetings, and burned books and brochures printed by the group.