Georgian Parliament Speaker: OSCE avoids responsibility and has hurt its reputation among Georgian people

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday criticised the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), accusing it of avoiding responsibility and damaging its reputation among the Georgian people over a recent resolution and the organisation’s response to concerns raised by Georgian officials.

“It is very bad when the OSCE avoids responsibility. It was precisely such a turning of a blind eye that brought us to where we are today”, Papuashvili said.

He further added that the OSCE would have to take significant steps to regain the trust of the Georgian public.

“It is very unfortunate when the OSCE avoids responsibility. Such indifference, and the use of parliamentary assemblies as political tools, have led us to a situation where the international rules-based order has been undermined”, he continued.

Papuashvili further argued that international organisations had previously ignored what he described as unfair approaches and political manipulation, contributing to the current global challenges.

“This is, first and foremost, a major act of irresponsibility. With this resolution and its reaction to the resolution, the OSCE has damaged its own reputation in the eyes of the Georgian people. Therefore, the OSCE has a lot of work to do to restore this reputation”, Papuashvili said.

The comments came after Imedi TV contacted both the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the OSCE headquarters, asking whether the organisation planned to review what Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze had described as controversial provisions in the resolution.

The OSCE headquarters responded that the Parliamentary Assembly is an independent body and would be best positioned to answer questions regarding the resolution.

“Thank you for contacting us. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is an independent institution and will be able to provide the best answers to your questions. Their contact information can be found here: Nat Perry, Head of Communications and Press, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly”, the OSCE press service said in its reply.