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Hatzigiannis: EU Must Maintain Consistent Stance Against Authoritarian Regimes

Published February 20, 2026, 14:07
Hatzigiannis: EU Must Maintain Consistent Stance Against Authoritarian Regimes

The Vice-President of the OSCE PA and Special Representative of the Assembly for South-Eastern Europe, Kyriakos Hatzigiannis, participated in a meeting of the General Committee for Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, where he stated that the rise of extremist ideologies and the decline of trust in traditional parties are linked to social polarization and a decrease in confidence in democratic institutions. Mr. Hatzigiannis emphasized that the European Union must demonstrate unity and determination against Russian aggression, invest in its defense and security, and maintain a consistent stance towards authoritarian regimes. The adoption of selective approaches undermines the credibility of the international community. He pointed out that it is unthinkable to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine while simultaneously overlooking similar actions by other regimes. Treating these regimes as potential partners in the European security architecture is problematic. Finally, Mr. Hatzigiannis stated that the spread of misinformation and fake news undermines public dialogue and endangers the conduct of free and fair elections, especially in the Western Balkans, where foreign influence and hybrid threats are linked to geopolitical ambitions.

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