Parliament official accuses OSCE/ODIHR of inability to see Georgian processes objectively

Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday criticised the OSCE/ODIHR for failing to explicitly condemn protesters' intrusion into the President’s Palace as a state crime, arguing it demonstrates their inability to objectively evaluate Georgia's political processes.

Samkharadze’s remarks came after the OSCE/ODIHR on Tuesday stated that “Georgian authorities continue to detain and fine peaceful protesters for exercising their rights” and called on the Georgian authorities “to ensure that civil society and human rights defenders are not targeted and that their voices are heard”.

In his remarks, Samkharadze asserted that the OSCE/ODIHR could have easily denounced the intrusion into the President’s Palace, as they do in other cases, but chose not to, thereby confirming their lack of impartiality in assessing Georgia's situation.

“They didn’t do this, thereby confirming once again that they are unable to objectively assess the processes in Georgia, which I pointed out to them and their leadership during our bilateral meeting at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Simply mentioning violence in one word is not enough. They should specify who was committing this violence”, Samkharadze said.

On October 4, large-scale protests in Tbilisi escalated into a dramatic confrontation, as a group of radical demonstrators tried to storm the presidential palace. The unrest occurred on the same day Georgia held municipal elections.

Authorities detained at least five opposition figures, including Paata Burchuladze. They are now facing charges of plotting to overthrow the government - a potential offense that could carry lengthy prison sentences.

Government officials described the events as a failed coup attempt orchestrated with foreign backing. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze called the protests “an attempted overthrow of the constitutional order”.