Irakli Kobakhidze: Unprecedented attacks by radical opposition and their foreign patrons led to OSCE/ODIHR’s absence

11:37, 04.10.2025

“I believe the primary reason why the OSCE/ODIHR did not come to Georgia is due to the unprecedented attacks from the radical opposition and their foreign benefactors. In such a context, the OSCE/ODIHR had legitimate grounds to refrain,” Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told journalists.

Irakli Kobakhidze stated that a substantial number of observers have arrived in Georgia for the local elections.

“In reality, a large number of observers have come. The Central Election Commission held a briefing, and if I am not mistaken, more than 1,000 observers have arrived. We also extended an invitation to the OSCE/ODIHR, but they responded that they would be unable to staff the mission.

Back in 2007, the OSCE/ODIHR was invited just a month before the elections, and they easily organised the mission then. So, that deadline was essentially an excuse. I believe the main reason the OSCE/ODIHR did not arrive in Georgia is because of the unprecedented attacks on them by the radical opposition, supported by the opposition’s foreign patrons. Against such a backdrop, the OSCE/ODIHR had valid reasons to refrain. However, in three years’ time, the OSCE/ODIHR will definitely be in Georgia and, as is customary, will observe the parliamentary elections,” the Prime Minister stated.

By - Svetlana Alimova

Elections 2025

Politics

2025 municipal elections

observers

October 4 voting

OSCE / ODIHR

PM Irakli Kobakhidze