“We condemn the detentions of opposition leaders taking place as a result of disproportionate legal procedures,” said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen during her visit to Georgia.
Valtonen claimed that a range of serious concerns were raised at the meetings, including the adoption of restrictive laws affecting civil society, the media, and journalists, as well as broader issues related to democratic governance.
“I would like to thank my Georgian colleague, Ms. Maka Bochorishvili, for the warm welcome in Tbilisi as the representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. The OSCE appreciates Georgia’s continued participation in the Geneva International Discussions and in the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism. It is important for us to maintain active cooperation in this process, which contributes to border security. We see potential for more work in this direction, and the OSCE stands ready to provide expert support together with the OSCE Monitoring Mission.
We believe that reconciliation is an essential element of future peacebuilding, and we encourage further efforts in this regard.
During our meeting, I also raised serious concerns shared by OSCE participating states and institutions regarding the domestic situation — including restrictive legislation targeting civil society, media, and journalists, as well as recent developments that undermine the work of non-governmental organizations.
We condemn the detentions of opposition leaders, which result from disproportionate legal actions. Freedom of expression and assembly are under question. Civil society is not a threat to stability; on the contrary, NGOs, human rights defenders, journalists, and others form an integral part of democratic resilience. Their voices must not only be heard but also protected.
That is why this visit focuses on engagement with civil society. It is crucial that, in any democracy, people have the right to choose — and this must also be true for Georgia. The people of Georgia deserve to have their human rights, freedom of expression, and fundamental liberties safeguarded.
The Government of Georgia must find a way out of the crisis, rebuild trust, and strengthen democratic institutions. The OSCE stands ready to assist Georgia in meeting its obligations in line with the shared principles enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act,” Valtonen said.
Image: IPN
