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OSCE Chairperson-in-Office: Government of Georgia must find way out of crisis

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen

15 October 2025 17:07 (UTC +04:00)

"The Government of Georgia must find a way out of the crisis, rebuild trust, and strengthen democratic institutions," said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen during her visit to Georgia, APA reports, citing GT.

She said that 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.

"They stand up against injustice, drive innovation, and call on authorities to be accountable. Their voices must not only be heard but also protected," OSCE Chairperson-in-Office emphasized.

During our meeting with my Georgian colleague, Ms. Maka Bochorishvili, 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.

Note that within the framework of her visit to Georgia, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office met with the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maka Bochorishvili. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze canceled his planned meeting with Valtonen. According to the Georgian government, the reason for this was the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office's participation and statements made at a rally held in Tbilisi last night.