Georgian Parliament Speaker: OSCE/ODIHR report isappointing for opposition

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili remarked that the OSCE/ODIHR interim report on Georgia’s electoral environment had disappointed the opposition, who had hoped for a different outcome. He highlighted that the report confirmed a calm, violence-free atmosphere where all political parties had the opportunity to campaign freely, contradicting the opposition’s claims of unrest.

Speaking on Adjara TV’s “Free Space” program, Papuashvili noted that the OSCE/ODIHR report aligned with what the general public and activists had observed, describing the pre-election environment as “unusually peaceful.” He added that any reported incidents of violence were isolated and did not reflect the overall situation.

“The report confirms what the public already sees—an environment free of violence, where everyone can run their campaigns,” Papuashvili said. “There are only a few isolated incidents, which is exactly what the OSCE/ODIHR highlights in its report.”

Papuashvili claimed that the opposition, who were allegedly preparing for unrest, began an “information assault” immediately after the report’s release in an attempt to influence international observers. He pointed to a recent report aired by TV Pirveli concerning alleged personal data collection, calling it an example of the opposition’s effort to create false perceptions.

“We saw how, right after the report came out, the opposition, disappointed by its findings, launched a massive media campaign to create noise and manipulate perceptions…For example, TV Pirveli aired a report about the collection of personal information, but it lacked any evidence—no names, facts, or proof,” Papuashvili stated.

He further criticized certain NGOs for amplifying these media reports, despite their lack of supporting evidence.

Additionally, Papuashvili accused President Salome Zourabichvili of spreading false information. He referred to a recent claim by the president that personal information was being collected in schools for electoral purposes.

“This was a blatant lie, and the Ministry of Education debunked it within minutes,” Papuashvili said.

“It is morally unacceptable for someone holding the office of president to spread such falsehoods, especially when it involves schools and children,” he added.