OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopts Hague Declaration including critical resolution on Georgia

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has adopted the Hague Declaration, which includes a resolution on Georgia initiated by US Congressman Joe Wilson.

The resolution, titled Safeguarding electoral integrity and fundamental freedoms in Georgia, raises concerns over the conduct of parliamentary and local elections, restrictive legislation, the treatment of opposition figures and protesters, and what it describes as the erosion of democratic checks and balances.

The assembly said reports by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights had identified significant irregularities during Georgia's 26 October 2024 parliamentary elections, including voter intimidation, pressure on public employees and concerns over ballot secrecy.

It also expressed concern over allegations of electoral fraud, vote manipulation, voter bribery, carousel voting and attempts to obstruct opposition observers at polling stations during the October 2025 local elections.

The resolution condemned the adoption of legislation including the law on transparency of foreign influence, amendments to the law on assemblies and demonstrations and provisions of the Code of Administrative Offences, saying they severely restricted freedoms of association, media, expression and assembly and had a chilling effect on civil society.

The assembly also expressed concern over what it described as the systematic use of administrative resources and the consolidation of institutional power, saying these practices had created an uneven playing field, undermined public confidence in democratic processes and led to de facto one-party rule.

It condemned what it described as the continued use of arbitrary detention, imprisonment and harassment against members of the political opposition, media representatives and peaceful protesters who support Georgia's democratic and European future.

The resolution said the erosion of democratic checks and balances and departures from OSCE commitments posed a direct threat to Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration path.

It stressed that the legitimacy of any election result depended on compliance with international standards for free, fair and transparent elections.

The assembly called on the Georgian authorities to release all political prisoners identified by national and international human rights groups, repeal legislation restricting fundamental freedoms and investigate all reported electoral violations from the 2024 and 2025 elections.

It also called for those responsible for electoral violations to be held accountable and urged the authorities to begin genuine reforms, in consultation with the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR, to restore the independence of the judiciary and the Central Election Commission.

The resolution called on the Georgian authorities to ensure a safe environment for civil society organisations and independent media to operate without fear of retaliation.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly urged its members and the international community to consistently support the immediate restoration of democratic norms in Georgia and future electoral processes that fully comply with OSCE commitments.

It also called on the international community not to recognise the results of any elections in Georgia that are not certified as free, fair and democratic by credible international and domestic observation missions, and to continue monitoring the human rights situation in the country and supporting the Georgian people's aspirations for democratic values.

Georgia's delegation refused to take part in the vote on the Hague Declaration and left the plenary session in protest.