OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President to Georgian FM: I remain hopeful that we can work together to strengthen democratic principles, processes in Georgia

Pia Kauma, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, on Monday addressed the Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili following the postponement of a planned visit to Georgia.

In her letter, Kauma noted the decision had been taken after “careful consideration” of the current circumstances.

“As highlighted in the ODIHR Election Observation Mission’s Final Report on the 26 October parliamentary elections, and as discussed constructively with the Prime Minister yesterday, Georgia faces work to align its electoral processes with OSCE commitments and international democratic standards. The report’s findings and recommendations remain critical to addressing these deficiencies, and I reiterate my strong support for their implementation”, Kauma said.

“The purpose of the planned visit was to facilitate dialogue with the Government, opposition, and civil society on these vital recommendations and to reaffirm the OSCE’s commitment to supporting democratic reforms. While I appreciate your Government’s willingness to engage with my delegation, I have concluded that the present conditions are not conducive to the meaningful and inclusive discussions required to make tangible progress. However, we remain resolute in our efforts to support the implementation of the ODIHR recommendations and to promote dialogue among all stakeholders. I look forward to identifying a more suitable time to visit Georgia, when conditions will better enable constructive engagement”, the letter continued.

Kauma further encouraged the Georgian authorities “to act on the recommendations outlined in the ODIHR report and to prioritize inclusive and constructive dialogue with all relevant forces”.

“The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly stands ready to assist in these efforts and we would be available to discuss this in an online meeting in the near future. Thank you for your understanding and continued cooperation. I remain hopeful that we can work together to strengthen democratic principles and processes in Georgia”, the letter concluded.