Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stated that the presence of OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen near the recent protests in Tbilisi does not compromise her impartial role or the value of principled dialogue.
Eide, together with nine other countries — Iceland, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom — voiced full confidence in Valtonen’s leadership.
“We commend her engagement with Georgian stakeholders and her clear support for core OSCE principles, including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Her appearance near the Tbilisi protests in no way diminishes the Chair’s impartiality or the importance of principled dialogue,” Eide said.
He emphasized that, under the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, all OSCE participating States are committed to promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms, while the 1991 Moscow Document affirms that such commitments are of direct and legitimate concern to all member states, not solely internal matters.
“We welcome the Chair’s continued efforts across the South Caucasus and fully support her mandate,” the Norwegian Foreign Minister added.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has fined Elina Valtonen, Finland’s Foreign Minister and current OSCE Chairperson, 5,000 GEL for blocking a road on Rustaveli Avenue, the ministry confirmed.
Valtonen visited Georgia on 14 October as part of an official trip. During her visit, she went to a protest near the Parliament and spoke with participants.
The following day, the Georgian government announced that a planned meeting between Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Valtonen had been canceled due to her participation in an unlawful protest and false statements. However, Valtonen later told the Finnish publication Helsingin Sanomat that the meeting’s cancellation was not Georgia’s decision but a schedule change initiated by Finland.
This incident has drawn attention amid ongoing diplomatic engagements, highlighting the sensitivity of official visits and public appearances in Tbilisi.
