Georgia’s deputy speaker challenges criticism over CoE convention debate

Georgia’s Deputy Parliament Speaker Nino Tsilosani has questioned what she described as differing international reactions to decisions regarding the Istanbul Convention, after the Latvian parliament backed a move to withdraw from the treaty on preventing and combating violence against women.

Reacting on social media on Friday, Tsilosani argued that when Latvia took such a step, it did not face criticism from international partners - while Georgia had been criticised even for exercising its right to judicial review.

“If joining the Istanbul Convention is considered democratic progress and protection of human rights, then is withdrawing from it not a democratic backslide?” she wrote.

Tsilosani added that Latvia’s decision had not triggered condemnation, while Georgia, in her view, was frequently singled out.

“When Latvia does this, no one criticises them… Only Georgia can be criticised, even for applying to the court and exercising a fundamental right, which until now we believed could not be taken away from us,” she said.