October 14: Meeting and Protests

On October 14, Elina Valtonen, the Finnish Foreign Minister and Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, visited Georgia and attended a peaceful rally on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. The demonstration, held nightly for several months, called for democracy, freedom of expression, and human rights in Georgia. Valtonen, sharing a video from the avenue, wrote on X that "peaceful protestors have gathered in front of the Parliament Building in Tbilisi, Georgia, to voice their concern over the repressive direction of their country. They have every right to democracy, to freedom of expression, and basic human rights. We are here to support them".

During her visit, Valtonen met with Maka Botchorishvili, the Georgian Dream Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee. In their discussions, Valtonen emphasized the importance of safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms, noting that "silencing these voices undermines not only democratic values but also the resilience of society in the face of growing security challenges". She stated that the Georgian government "must find a way out of the crisis and restore trust in democratic institutions," offering the OSCE’s support in this regard. Botchorishvili, in turn, stressed that the OSCE Chairperson’s visit demonstrated the Organization’s support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and its continued commitment to keeping the issue of the occupation of Georgia’s territories on the OSCE agenda. She said that the two sides discussed regional stability, security, and human rights, including the humanitarian situation in the Russia-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. Botchorishvili also highlighted Georgia’s European aspirations, stating that "a meaningful, results-oriented dialogue with the European Union" remained a priority for Tbilisi.

At their joint press conference, Valtonen expressed serious concern about Georgia’s restrictive legislation, the targeting of civil society, and the imprisonment of opposition figures. She reaffirmed the OSCE’s appreciation for Georgia’s participation in the Geneva International Discussions and the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism, noting that active engagement in these processes was essential for peacebuilding. Valtonen also referred to recent actions by Georgia’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, describing the freezing of NGO bank accounts and restrictions on foreign donor funding as "of grave concern". The Finnish minister condemned the arrests of opposition leaders, calling for "free, fair, and proportionate legal proceedings for all those arrested for exercising their freedom of expression and assembly". She underscored that "NGOs, human rights defenders, and journalists are the lifeblood of democratic resilience. Their voices must not only be heard, they must be protected". Valtonen concluded that her visit aimed to engage with civil society and promote democratic dialogue, stressing that "it will be up to the Georgian people to decide what kind of government and future they want for themselves".

October 15: Diplomatic Fallout and Conflicting Accounts

On October 15, the Georgian government announced that Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze had canceled his scheduled meeting with Elina Valtonen due to her participation in what it described as an "illegal rally" and her "false statements". In a Facebook post, the government stated, "Yesterday, for participating in an illegal rally and making false statements, the Prime Minister canceled the planned meeting with the Finnish Foreign Minister". Reacting to Valtonen’s appearance at the protest, Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, wrote on X that the Finnish minister "was witnessing a few dozen radicals who stormed the presidential palace a few days ago and injured 25 police officers, two of them gravely, while blocking the road in violation of law". He added that Valtonen’s presence violated Georgian legislation and Article 41 of the Vienna Convention, which requires foreign officials to respect the laws and regulations of the host country.

However, the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reported that Valtonen had canceled the meeting first. She told the outlet that "the decision was made at the initiative of Finland due to a schedule change, and the Georgians were informed of it last night". Valtonen explained, "I specifically went to watch the protests that were taking place in Georgia for weeks and months. I wanted to express my support for freedom of speech". She said she had to cancel the meeting to continue her regional visit, traveling from Tbilisi to Baku as part of her South Caucasus tour. Valtonen wrote on X, addressing Prime Minister Kobakhidze, that "the Georgian future is only for the Georgian people to decide. The same applies to every OSCE participating state. For people to be able to exercise this right, they need freedom of speech and free and fair elections with political alternatives to choose from". Citing the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, she reminded that participating states are committed to promoting "the effective exercise of civil, political, economic, social, cultural, and other rights and freedoms for all individuals". Valtonen added, "In this spirit, as chair of the OSCE and 50 years since the signing of this document, I invite you, PM Kobakhidze, to come to Finland, meet the free press, and observe any demonstration of your liking". As a postscript, she noted, "I had to cancel our meeting in Tbilisi because of clashing schedules".

October 16: Public Statements and Fine

On October 16, the Georgian Interior Ministry fined Elina Valtonen approximately USD 1,800 for "blocking the road" during the protest rally she attended on Rustaveli Avenue. Meanwhile, Georgia’s Foreign Ministry sent a protest note to the OSCE Secretariat and participating states, accusing Valtonen of acting beyond her official program and joining "a street rally organized by a small group of anti-government activists who were freely but illegally blocking Tbilisi’s main avenue". The Ministry said that her public remarks "represent a deliberate attempt to mislead the international community about the situation in Georgia". The protest note further stated that Valtonen’s actions contradicted "the spirit of cooperation within the OSCE and may be considered an abuse of the Chairperson’s mandate, undermining trust and the expected neutrality". The Ministry emphasized that her conduct was "incompatible with universally recognized principles of international law, including respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs," citing the Helsinki Final Act, the UN Resolution A/RES/20/213, and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Despite the diplomatic tensions, Valtonen reaffirmed that her engagement in Georgia aimed to promote dialogue, uphold democratic principles, and support the Georgian people’s right to determine their own political future.