PACE Election Monitor Head joins opposition's false alarm over Elene Khoshtaria’s “torture”

Iulian Bulai, the Head of the Election Observation Group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party, who had previously echoed the radical opposition’s narrative regarding the 2024 parliamentary elections in Georgia, is now participating in the opposition’s false uproar over the alleged “torture” of Elene Khoshtaria, a leader of the opposition Coalition for Change.

The case concerns the administrative detention of Khoshtaria, who was actually detained for disobeying a lawful police order and engaging in petty hooliganism.

However, the Romanian MP, following the opposition’s lead, labeled Khoshtaria's detention as unjust, echoing the opposition's claims of political persecution.

“ALDE-PACE is shocked by the arbitrary arrest and police violence against Droa party leader Elene Khoshtaria. It is yet another example of blatant and continuous disregard for civil and political rights in Georgia”, he said in a social media message.

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This is not the first time Bulai’s impartiality has been questioned. During his leadership of the PACE election observation mission for the 2024 elections, the delegation’s statements mirrored the radical opposition's concerns regarding alleged attacks on opposition members, politicised state institutions, and the media environment.

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs on Saturday released a statement addressing the allegations made by Khoshtaria.

The statement clarified that Khoshtaria was arrested on Friday outside the Parliament building in the capital city of Tbilisi during a protest for disobedience to a lawful police demand and petty hooliganism, in accordance with Articles 166 and 173 of the Code of Administrative Offences.

The procedures related to her placement in the detention facility were recorded on the facility’s surveillance cameras. If required, and in accordance with the law and the detainee’s consent, relevant authorities and human rights defenders have the opportunity to review the existing video recordings.