Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee and the Head of the Parliamentary Delegation to OSCE PA, participates in the Annual OSCE PA Session in Porto, Portugal.

The OSCE Political Affairs and Security General Committee and the Economic and Environmental General Committee convened sittings within the Session.

Nikoloz Samkharadze addressed the Political Affairs and Security General Committee, underscoring the concerted efforts to deliberately provoke destabilisation, which are funded by foreign entities. He asserted that the Georgian Government unequivocally rejects the assessments pertaining to the politically motivated arrests and the restrictions on media freedom.

“Currently, Georgia grapples with multifaceted internal and external challenges, each of which bears the direct or indirect influence of foreign powers. Notably, 20% of Georgian territories, namely Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, remain under Russian occupation. Furthermore, domestically, there are indications of orchestrated attempts to destabilise the country, which are allegedly funded by foreign entities. This situation raises serious concerns about the potential violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We strongly object to the interpretations of certain resolutions regarding the attempts to restrict peaceful assemblies, freedom of media, and independence in Georgia.

The recent demonstrations in Tbilisi, where individuals blocked central avenues, serve as compelling evidence of the freedom of peaceful assembly. These protesters demonstrated peaceful conduct, ensuring the protection of their rights and their right to assembly, despite their limited numbers.

Regarding media independence, the OSCE’s recent report underscores Georgia’s commitment to media pluralism, albeit with a degree of polarisation. While the media may be pluralist and independent, it is not without its challenges.

Regarding politically motivated arrests, it is important to clarify that the individuals arrested during the November-December disturbances, which resulted in injuries to three police officers, including one who lost his sight and several underwent surgery, were not politically motivated. These arrests were made in response to the commission of crimes committed during the disturbances.

It is crucial to distinguish between politically motivated arrests and arrests based on the commission of crimes. The offenders are currently undergoing legal proceedings”, - he reported.

The OSCE PA Annual Session is attended by the members of the Parliamentary Delegation to OSCE PA: Maia Bitadze, Chair of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee; and Levan Makhashvili, Chair of the EU Integration Committee.