Tensions rise between Georgia, OSCE over Finnish FM’s participation in Tbilisi protest

The Georgian government has lodged a formal note of protest with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) following Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen’s unexpected participation in an anti-government rally during her official visit to Tbilisi.

Valtonen, who currently serves as the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, joined demonstrators on Rustaveli Avenue on October 14, drawing sharp criticism from Georgian officials, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

According to a statement by the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the protest note was sent to both the OSCE Secretariat and all participating states. The ministry expressed “deep concern” over Valtonen’s conduct, stating that her presence at the demonstration was outside the scope of her official program and constituted interference in Georgia’s internal affairs.

“In the note sent to the OSCE Secretariat, the Foreign Ministry underlines that, in addition to the official visit program in Georgia, Minister Elina Valtonen joined an anti-government rally held by a small group of people on the street and made a statement that is an attempt to mislead the international community about the situation in Georgia,” the statement read.

The protest, attended by members of Georgia’s opposition and civil society, was part of a broader movement against government policies perceived to undermine democratic institutions and Western integration.

Reacting strongly to the incident, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili accused Valtonen of disregarding Georgia’s sovereignty and exploiting her position for political optics.

“Through her actions, the OSCE chairperson has demonstrated that the Georgian state means nothing to her,” Papuashvili said.

He added, “The Georgian people must once again realise one thing: there is no such thing as an international order based on rules. It is all a chimera, a contrived construct designed to be imposed on the small and weak.”

Papuashvili further criticised Valtonen’s participation as a reputational trade-off, stating: “She showed that the Georgian state means nothing; she traded her reputation as the current OSCE chair for a 39-second video.”

By Vafa Guliyeva