Ruling party MP denounces reports on OSCE vote as ‘shameful lie,’ calls for defamation law

Maia Bitadze, Chairperson of the Georgian Parliament’s Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee, has denied reports that Georgia supported a recent resolution adopted by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, calling the media claims a "shameful lie" and advocating for legislation to combat defamation.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly recently adopted a resolution this week reaffirming the territorial integrity of Georgia and Ukraine. The document called on Syria’s new government to withdraw its recognition of the independence of Georgia’s occupied regions, as well as Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk. It rejected the legitimacy of elections held in these territories and urged Russia to reverse its recognition, demilitarize the regions, and comply with the 2008 ceasefire agreement. The resolution also expressed concern over “democratic backsliding” in Georgia and encouraged the government to de-escalate internal tensions and protect civil liberties.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Bitadze said the Georgian delegation explicitly opposed amendments to the resolution introduced by the US Congressman Joe Wilson, which she claimed were backed by a voting bloc within the Assembly.

“Our delegation was clearly distinguished by tough statements both during committee discussions and at the plenary session,” Bitadze said. “We protested the very amendments initiated by Joe Wilson, which were supported by a group with a significant number of votes. Naturally, we did not support these amendments - and consequently, we could not support the resolution in its entirety, which is regrettable.”

She emphasized that allegations of Georgian support for the resolution were not only false but intended to mislead the public and discredit the delegation’s efforts.

“This is a harmful and blatant lie aimed at misleading the nation,” Bitadze said. “It is exactly this kind of disinformation that demonstrates the need for a defamation law.”

Bitadze also highlighted what she described as a “successful contribution” made by the Georgian delegation to the original resolution - namely, a provision calling on Syria’s new government to withdraw its recognition of the country’s Russian-controlled Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.