OSCE Parliamentary Assembly president postpones visit to Georgia

The President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), Pia Kauma, has announced the postponement of her planned visit to Georgia, originally scheduled for January 8 to 10.

The decision follows a thorough review of the current situation in the country, as stated in a letter addressed to Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, Caliber.Az reports citing Georgian media.

Kauma's letter  highlighted that the delay was due to a "detailed analysis of the current situation," with the intention to reschedule the visit for a time when the OSCE PA's involvement would be most effective.

The announcement comes after Richard Kohl, a Member of the European Parliament, had earlier shared on social media that Kauma was expected to lead a delegation to Georgia. However, Kauma later confirmed on her own social media accounts that the visit had been temporarily postponed.

In her letter, Kauma expressed regret over the change in plans and noted that the visit would not take place as initially planned for January 8-10. She emphasized that the decision was made after careful consideration of the circumstances, underscoring the importance of ensuring the timing of the visit aligns with the potential for the OSCE PA's effective contribution.

The postponement of the visit reflects ongoing diplomatic considerations regarding the current situation in Georgia.

According to the OSCE PA president, she has already held constructive discussions with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze regarding the need to align Georgia's electoral processes with OSCE commitments and international democratic standards. This was emphasized in the final report of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission for the parliamentary elections on October 26, 2024.

Kauma further explained that the purpose of her planned visit to Georgia was to engage in dialogue with government officials, opposition leaders, and civil society. The purpose of the planned visit was to facilitate dialogue with the government, opposition, and civil society on these vital recommendations and to reaffirm the OSCE’s commitment to supporting democratic reforms.

Despite the Georgian government's willingness to host her delegation, Kauma concluded that the current conditions were not suitable for the kind of meaningful and inclusive discussions required to make substantial progress. She made this point clear in her letter, stating, "While I appreciate your government’s willingness to engage with my delegation, I have concluded that the present conditions are not conducive to the meaningful and inclusive discussions required to make tangible progress."

However, Kauma assured that the Parliamentary Assembly will continue its efforts to support the implementation of ODIHR's recommendations and will work to encourage dialogue among all parties involved.

However, Kauma assured that the Parliamentary Assembly will remain resolute in its efforts to support the implementation of the ODIHR recommendations and to promote dialogue among all stakeholders.

“I look forward to identifying a more suitable time to visit Georgia, when conditions will better enable constructive engagement.

In the meantime, I encourage the Georgian authorities to act on the recommendations outlined in the ODIHR report and to prioritize inclusive and constructive dialogue with all relevant forces.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly stands ready to assist in these efforts and we would be available to discuss this in an online meeting in the near future,” the letter notes.

Earlier, Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili stated that Kauma's visit could lead to deep disappointment among the people of Georgia, particularly those who have been protesting on the streets for over forty days against alleged election fraud.

The visit announcement sparked harsh criticism from the opposition parties and President Salome Zourabichvili, who warned that the visit would be manipulated by the ruling Georgian Dream party for claiming the legitimacy of what the opposition and President Zourabichvili, as well as majority of Georgia’s Western partners view as illegitimate government and parliament. The opposition parties as well as civil society have allegedly rejected to meet with the delegation.

The protests in Georgia gained momentum following a controversial statement by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on November 28, where he declared that negotiations with the European Union would not be pursued until at least 2028. This announcement, viewed by many as a step back from Georgia's European aspirations, has sparked widespread condemnation from opposition groups, civil society, and the international community, many of whom do not recognize Kobakhidze's legitimacy.

The demands of the protesters remain clear and focused: to hold new elections and to free those detained during previous protests.

By Vafa Guliyeva