Ruling party senior MP Samkharadze: OSCE PA delegation reiterated condemnation of attacks on state institutions

Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday said the delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly had reiterated during meetings in Georgia that it condemns violence and attacks on state institutions.

Speaking to journalists, Samkharadze noted that the OSCE delegation had held a series of high-level meetings over two days.

He said the visit began with a meeting with the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament and continued with meetings with opposition parties, as well as officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The delegation also met the Public Defender of Georgia and the country’s president, while the visit concluded with a meeting with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

Samkharadze said the Georgian side explained to the delegation that the lack of political dialogue in the country was largely due to the opposition’s refusal to recognise the results of the 2024 parliamentary elections and its decision not to take up parliamentary mandates.

“They do not recognise the election results and therefore do not recognise the Government as legitimate. They are not entering parliament, which deprives us of the opportunity to have political dialogue with them,” he said.

Samkharadze said the OSCE delegation was already well informed about the political situation in Georgia, noting that the organisation had issued conclusions on the 2024 elections.

He added the delegation’s visit was not intended to provide recommendations or assessments but rather to exchange views.

Samkharadze also stressed that political dialogue is essential in any democratic system, noting that parliament is the place where political competitors should engage in discussion.

He said the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly was the only international organisation that had condemned what he described as a violent attack on the presidential palace.

“During all the meetings, they repeated that they condemn violence and attacks on state institutions,” Samkharadze said, adding that it remains to be seen what the organisation will include in its final report.