Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee and the Head of the Parliamentary Delegation to the OSCE PA, participates in the OSCE PA annual session.

In his address to the Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, he vehemently criticised the amendments regarding Georgia’s Parliamentary Elections. He asserted that these amendments are fundamentally flawed and irrational in numerous aspects.

“The initial two sentences are at odds with the OSCE/ODIHR report and findings. In response, I would like to inquire of the Polish Member of Parliament, the initiator of the record, as to why he seeks to undermine the credibility of the OSCE/ODIHR Observation Mission. What purpose does the existence of these observation missions serve if certain members of the Assembly cast doubt upon them for political gain and their antipathy towards the election results, particularly given their connections with opposition parties?” - he implored.

According to his assertion, Georgia is an active member of the OSCE, and the OSCE holds a high level of respect in Georgia. Nevertheless, the unfounded claims presented in subsequent paragraphs undermine the trust that Georgian society has in the OSCE.

In his speech, N. Samkharadze underscored the modifications made to the report that reflect concern about the alarming strengthening of Georgia’s ties with the Russian Federation.

“To my understanding, the majority of Assembly members appear to be unaware that Georgia, in this Assembly, along with Ukraine, stands alone as the sole nation without diplomatic relations with Russia. This is primarily due to the fact that 20% of Georgian territories are currently under Russian occupation. Furthermore, I am curious to understand the purpose of the statement about the strengthened ties that the proposed modifications are intended to establish. I believe that the author of the initiative should provide evidence to support their assertions”.

He reviewed the EU integration progress of Georgia, underlining that the EU membership is currently being communicated between Georgia and the EU and this issue goes beyond the OSCE competence.

Finalizing his address, N. Samkharadze criticized the amendment that provides that the Georgian Government attempts to consolidate its authority through the adoption of the respective laws.

“I would be pleased to receive the specific details of the laws, including whether they are antidemocratic or anticonstitutional, and the provisions that govern them. It is essential to substantiate statements before making them”.