Georgian Parliament Speaker: OSCE PA seeking to determine truth and not accept uncritically imposed propaganda, disinformation

Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said that the president of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly reiterated the same conclusion that the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) observation mission delivered regarding Georgia’s 2024 elections.

Speaking after a meeting with a delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Papuashvili noted that the key conclusion voiced by the mission’s head at the time was that Georgia has an elected government and that it is now important to look forward.

The speaker stressed that it is welcome that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is not falling under the influence of Brussels and is trying to establish the truth independently rather than following disinformation campaigns.

“Unfortunately, despite the commitment we received, including from the European Union, that the ODIHR observation mission’s conclusion would serve as a guideline for them, we were misled. Instead of continuing relations with Georgia based on that conclusion, we saw attempts from Brussels to encourage a radical agenda”, Papuashvili said.

He added that certain foreign political groups and even some countries had encouraged activities in Georgia aimed at undermining democracy and ultimately the violent overthrow of the government, which he said was witnessed on October 4.

“We are a very active member of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. It is important that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, including its new leadership, continues the line that a security organisation should have - constructive dialogue. In this regard, we are also fully ready”, the speaker continued.

“It is important for us that international organisations are not used as a tool to advance the political agenda of certain countries or political groups. As we see happening, for example, in the case of the PACE and the European Parliament. Fortunately, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is, to a certain extent, still protected from such influence. Its leadership is trying, especially in these difficult conditions, to determine the truth for itself and not accept uncritically the propaganda and disinformation imposed from Brussels against the Georgian people”, Papuashvili concluded.