Parliament official addresses OSCE PA session, highlights Georgia’s commitment to peace, sovereignty

Maia Bitadze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Environment Protection and Natural Resources Committee, on Thursday emphasised Georgia’s unique position as a nation with the highest economic growth in Europe despite 20 percent of its territory remaining under Russian occupation.

In her address at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session, Bitadze noted that at a time when war was reshaping the region - from Ukraine to the Middle East - Georgia stood as a rare case of peace preserved under pressure.

“We are not free from threats, but we have chosen stability over chaos, institutions over populism, and long-term vision over short-term provocation”, she said.

“Preserving peace is vital not only for Georgia, but for the entire Black Sea region. This is why the OSCE matters and undermining its role - through politicised observation or selective criticism - is not just unfair to Georgia. It challenges the very principles of the Helsinki Final Act and collective security”, the Chair continued.

Bitadze further added that calling for new elections in Georgia - despite a largely positive assessment by the OSCE observation mission - undermined the credibility of OSCE itself.

“Such statements echo the rhetoric of radical opposition forces rejected by the Georgian people and risk politicising the OSCE’s vital role. We urge you to respect the OSCE mission’s findings and refrain from damaging public trust in international institutions”, she noted.

The official also denounced the application of double standards to Georgia, noting that actions deemed criminal in countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, or Sweden are often labeled political persecution when they occur in Georgia.

“That’s not just double standards - it’s pure cynicism. It undermines international law and weakens public trust in global partnerships”, she said.

“Disinformation and external manipulation, interference in Georgia’s domestic affairs - including in our democratic choices - does not support peace or democracy in the OSCE region. It threatens both. We ask for respect for our sovereignty, peace, and international law”, Bitadze concluded.