Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations, addressed Congressman Joe Wilson at the Political and Security Committee of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, stating, “If you are honest in your address, you would have also condemned the so-called sham elections in the occupied region of Abkhazia.”

Samkharadze responded to Wilson’s call for new elections and his demand that regular relations with the Georgian Dream government be withheld until their demands were met. Congressman said: “Sadly, we’re witnessing the trend of democratic backsliding in the OSCE region that unless reversed, will endanger European security, individual freedom and economic prosperity, and create jobs. It is most concerning about the fraudulent election held in Georgia in October and the disturbing pattern of repression that has followed in the wake, tragically providing for the rigged election that occurred in Georgia. Did a factor Georgian Dream regime in Tbilisi stand in violation of its freely undertaken OSCE commitments to hold fair and free elections and uphold its citizens? Fundamental freedoms subsequently have been forfeited as to their democratic legitimacy. As a result, I call on my colleagues to insist on new elections and to decline regular interaction with the Georgian Dream dictatorship until they can fulfil their demands.”

Nikoloz Samkharadze responded: “Mr. Wilson, if you are honest in your address, you would have also condemned the so-called sham elections in the occupied region of Abkhazia. But now let me get to the next matter of no less significance, which is the parliamentary elections in Georgia. While the elections were held in a politically pluralistic environment with the introduction of electronic technologies that ensure transparency and were organized much better than all previously held elections, certain groups of foreign politicians including Mr. Wilson here, chose not to recognize results, persisting in dissemination of entirely unverified claims and disinformation. One member of the European Parliament even accused, and I’m quoting, “OSCE/ODIHR of being under the influence of the regimes that are not interested in free and fair elections. Such statements not only seek to undermine the reputation and integrity of OSCE itself but also highlight their utter disregard for the willful choice of the Georgian people.

We are also deeply concerned about the pressures that had been applied to the OSCE/ODIHR mission from certain political foreign groups to influence the contents of the final report and about the interference of these politicians in the pre-election campaign. We stress the importance of upholding the principles of international law and call for unequivocal support, respect and support towards the freely expressed will of the Georgian voters, urging all parties to honour the decision with an unwavering commitment to Georgian people’s sovereign rights. And there are no reports from any international, credible international organizations that have said that the elections in Georgia were rigged.”