Georgian PM: OSCE Moscow Mechanism report on Georgia “full of falsehoods”

Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Saturday said the report prepared on Georgia under the OSCE Moscow Mechanism was “full of falsehoods” and politically motivated.

Commenting on the findings of the fact-finding mission organised by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Kobakhidze claimed the process involved a conflict of interest, noting that the mechanism was initiated, among others, by the state of Poland, and it later emerged that the appointed expert had previously served as a representative of the Polish government.

“This was a direct conflict of interest. The fact that this particular individual concealed the conflict of interest only deepens the suspicions. Everyone knows that the conclusion which was later published had already been drafted in advance. Ultimately, we all see that this report is completely filled with falsehoods, and we will present even more detailed information to the public about this”, the PM said.

“First of all, we will expose all the falsehoods reflected in this report. I would also like to note that the report contains specific information and recommendations that correspond to reality and should be taken into account. Such points are also included in this report. We will present more detailed information to the public about this. We will probably dedicate a special briefing to this issue, since it is important for the public to have information about it. There are issues that require our attention; however, overall this report is filled with falsehoods”, he continued.

Kobakhidze further highlighted that the entire process behind the report was politically driven and initiated by a group of countries pursuing narrow political interests.

“The basis and substance behind these processes are entirely political. You know which countries were at the forefront of initiating this process and how it continued afterward. The process was dictated by narrow political interests. Apparently, they could not find a country within the OSCE that is less democratic than Georgia”, he noted.

The head of government further argued that Georgia remains among the leading countries within the OSCE region in terms of democratic development, while criticising what he described as double standards within European institutions.

“Double standards are very obvious and shameful. All of this once again demonstrates the extremely troubling processes taking place within European bureaucracy”, he concluded.

The report issued under the OSCE Moscow Mechanism calls on the Georgian authorities to repeal several laws, including legislation on transparency and the protection of family values. It also recommends abolishing provisions related to foreign grants in the law on grants, revoking amendments to the law on broadcasting that concern foreign funding and content restrictions, and scrapping the so-called Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA)-style requirements.