OSCE Chair Valtonen visits protest outside Georgian Parliament

The Chairperson-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Finland’s Foreign Minister, Elina Valtonen, on Tuesday visited the ongoing protest outside the Georgian Parliament.

Valtonen did not make any comments to the media but spoke directly with demonstrators gathered near the legislative building.

Earlier during her visit to Georgia, the OSCE Chair met with Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the joint press conference, Valtonen criticised the recent arrests of opposition leaders, calling them the result of disproportionate legal procedures.

Valtonen arrived in Georgia from Armenia and is scheduled to continue her regional tour with a visit to Azerbaijan.