Ruling party MP challenges opposition over OSCE Moscow Mechanism report

The chair of the parliamentary legal affairs committee, Archil Gorduladze, has criticised Georgia’s opposition over its reaction to a report issued under the Organization for Security and Co‑operation in Europe’s Moscow Mechanism.

Writing on social media on Friday, Gorduladze said the opposition appeared pleased with the report but was avoiding discussion of issues that could provoke public backlash.

“The report of the Moscow Mechanism has become a burden for the opposition. On the one hand they are celebrating it, but at the same time they deliberately avoid the topics that would trigger public anger,” he wrote.

Gorduladze called on opposition figures to give clear answers to several questions related to legislation highlighted in the report, including whether certain laws should be repealed.

He specifically mentioned Georgia’s law on foreign influence transparency - often compared by the government to the US Foreign Agents Registration Act - as well as legislation on family values and the protection of minors.

The MP said the opposition should state clearly whether they support abolishing those laws and outline their position on issues related to gender identity.

The Moscow Mechanism is a procedure within the OSCE framework that allows participating states to launch investigations into alleged human rights concerns in another member state without its consent.