Arrested opposition leader: OSCE Moscow Mechanism may target officials serving the ‘regime’

The chair of the political council of the opposition United National Movement, Levan Khabeishvili, has said that the report prepared under the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Moscow Mechanism could ultimately be used against officials he claims are serving the current authorities.

Speaking during a court hearing on Friday, Khabeishvili said the mechanism should be seen as a warning to state institutions including law enforcement bodies, the judiciary and the prosecution service.

“Society must understand, including those who represent the law enforcement agencies, the courts and the prosecutor’s office, that very difficult days lie ahead for the state. The Moscow Mechanism is not simply a resolution or a recommendation, it is a legal document that will ultimately be applied against those who serve the regime,” he said.

Khabeishvili argued that the mechanism was directly linked to what he described as political prisoners and alleged systemic injustice in the country. He also referred to his own case, claiming that the report reflected broader concerns about human rights violations.

During the hearing, the opposition politician also alleged that he had been subjected to ill-treatment following his arrest and criticised the authorities over the handling of his case.

Khabeishvili was detained on 11 September 2025. According to investigators, he has been charged under articles of Georgia’s criminal code related to promising money to a public official in exchange for carrying out an illegal act and publicly calling for the overthrow of the state government.

The OSCE report under the Moscow Mechanism examines developments in Georgia since the spring of 2024 in relation to human rights and fundamental freedoms and includes a number of recommendations.