The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), at its annual session held in Porto on July 3, adopted the Porto Declaration, in which it called on the Georgian Dream government to release political prisoners and hold new, free, and fair elections.
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The declaration expresses serious concern over the deteriorating political situation in Georgia, characterized by increasing democratic backsliding, intensifying political polarization and escalating restrictions on fundamental freedoms, including the right to peaceful assembly and media independence, and condemning politically motivated detentions and judicial interference, which undermine democratic governance and Georgian European aspirations outlined in its Constitution.
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly urges the Georgian authorities to fulfil their commitments to ensure civil society, independent media, activists and protesters can operate freely and safely, and to foster a transparent and inclusive political process that reflects broad societal participation and is grounded in democratic principles, including by releasing all political prisoners and rescinding the Russian-style “foreign agents” law.
The Parliamentary Assembly expresses alarm over the post-election developments in Georgia following the 26 October 2024 parliamentary elections, including reports of arbitrary detentions, violence and ill-treatment of protesters, opposition leaders and media representatives, as documented by civil society organizations and the Public Defender of Georgia.
Furthermore, the PA welcomes the invocation of the OSCE Vienna Mechanism in response to the mass protests in Georgia following the 26 October 2024 parliamentary elections, which were marked by several inconsistencies according to the ODIHR election observation mission final report.
“The Assembly recognizes the importance of this mechanism in addressing concerns over human rights, democratic processes and the rule of law, and urges continued dialogue and co-operation to ensure the protection of fundamental freedoms, principally via the immediate release of all political prisoners and the holding of new, free and fair elections that truly reflect the will of the Georgian people,” the declaration states.
"Deep concern" regarding the 2024 parliamentary elections is also expressed in the resolution Supporting Democracy and OSCE Values in Georgia, which accompanies the Porto Declaration.
OSCE PA condemns the disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters, who are standing firm for the European and democratic future of Georgia.
The Assembly states disappointment that the Georgian authorities are using all means possible to consolidate their power by adopting new laws on “registration of foreign agents”, “radio and television” and “grants” in the resolution.
“The situation in Georgia continues to deteriorate, with authorities increasingly drifting away from the path of European integration. [The Assembly] is deeply concerned about growing anti-European Union rhetoric and finding it completely unacceptable,” states the resolution.
In addition, the Assembly is highly alarmed that strengthening ties with the Russian Federation and China raises concerns in the context of the declared European aspirations of Georgia.
Both declaration and resolution support Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders. Moreover, the declaration urges the Syrian Government to withdraw recognition of the “independence” of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia, and Tskhinvali.
Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chairman of the Georgian Dream's Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations and head of Georgia's permanent delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, stated during his address at the Assembly's plenary session that the OSCE "is now facing an existential crisis." Samkharadze criticized the amendments added to the OSCE PA's annual report on Georgia.
“If the context of the reports of the observation missions is being distorted today, the lies are disseminated, and the assailants armed with fireworks and “Molotov” cocktails are labelled as peaceful citizens, tomorrow, we may be regarded as elephants according to the same logic, and if the majority endorses this absurdity, it may even be introduced into the resolution”, - Samkharadze said.
Maia Bitadze, another member of the Georgian delegation, stated that the calling for new elections in Georgia “undermines the credibility of OSCE itself.
