Opposition urges OSCE PA President Pia Kauma to postpone visit to Georgia

Three opposition coalitions Coalition for Change, United National Movement, and Strong Georgia have called on Pia Kauma, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, to postpone her planned visit to Georgia.

In an open letter, the opposition thanked the OSCE and ODIHR for their commitment to ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections. However, they raised serious concerns regarding the legitimacy of the parliamentary elections held on October 26, 2024, accusing the ruling Georgian Dream party of widespread electoral fraud.

“The scale and intensity of falsifications undermined the legitimacy of the electoral process and public trust. As a result, the ‘parliament’ comprised solely of Georgian Dream representatives and its ‘president’ cannot be considered legitimate or representative of the Georgian people’s will,” the statement read.

The opposition also highlighted recent incidents of unlawful detentions, violence, and repression against participants in peaceful protests. According to their claims, over 50 people remain imprisoned, while hundreds face administrative charges.

The statement emphasized that visits by international officials are often exploited by what the opposition described as a “self-proclaimed regime” for propaganda purposes, further complicating the situation for democratic forces and civil society.

The opposition urged that Kauma’s visit should only proceed if it contributes to the preparation of new elections and the release of political prisoners. Otherwise, they believe postponing the visit would be the most appropriate course of action.

“In the absence of commitments by the Georgian Dream regime to release political prisoners and hold new elections, the postponement of this visit would be the best decision,” the opposition concluded.