Opposition Alliance says Georgian authorities may face accountability in int’l courts

The Opposition Alliance on Thursday stated the Georgian authorities have suffered a “significant international defeat” following a report prepared under the Moscow Mechanism of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

According to the alliance, the investigation mechanism, initiated by 24 states, relied on evidence, witness testimonies and information provided by the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The opposition claims the report exposes what it described as the “Russian regime” of Bidzina Ivanishvili for torture and inhuman treatment of individuals, the alleged use of chemical agents, election manipulation, politically motivated detentions and the adoption of repressive legislation targeting political opponents.

The report also calls on states that are parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to refer the situation in Georgia to the International Criminal Court over alleged systematic torture and inhuman treatment.

According to the opposition, the document also implies the need for an investigation by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons into the alleged use of prohibited chemical substances against Georgian citizens and calls on the international community to consider proceedings at the International Court of Justice and the imposition of international sanctions.

The report also highlights what the opposition describes as the detention of innocent individuals on political grounds and urges the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners.

It further stresses alleged irregularities in the 2024 parliamentary elections and the need to investigate claims of election fraud.

“This means that the regime has suffered a major international defeat; its representatives will have to face accountability in international courts, including the International Criminal Court, whose jurisdiction covers genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression,” said Tina Bokuchava, the chair of the United National Movement, during a joint briefing.

Bokuchava added that international pressure on the authorities will increase, including the expansion of personal sanctions against Ivanishvili and other representatives of the regime.

“The crisis cannot be resolved without new free and fair elections, the release of political prisoners and the accountability of those responsible,” she said.