OSCE PA Committee approves draft resolution on Georgia

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs has approved a draft resolution on Georgia entitled “Upholding Election Integrity and Fundamental Freedoms in Georgia.”

The resolution’s main sponsor is US Congressman Joe Wilson.

According to the resolution, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:

1. Concerned by the conduct of the parliamentary elections in Georgia on 26 October 2024, and noting that reports from the OSCE/ODIHR observation mission highlighted significant irregularities, including voter intimidation,
pressure on public employees, and a lack of secrecy in the voting process,
2. Disturbed by the signs of falsification, vote tampering, reports of voter bribery, “carousel voting” and obstruction of opposition observers at polling stations during the October 2025 local elections,
3. Deploring the adoption of restrictive legislation, specifically the “Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence”, amendments to the Law on Assemblies and Demonstration, as well as the Code on Administrative Offences, which severely restrict the freedoms of association, media, expression, and assembly, creating a chilling effect on civil society,
4. Alarmed by the systematic use of administrative resources and the consolidation of institutional power, which have created an uneven playing field, undermined public trust in the democratic process and created a de facto one-party rule,
5. Condemning the continued use of arbitrary detentions, arrests and harassment against members of the political opposition, media representatives, and peaceful protesters who advocate for Georgia’s democratic and European future,
6. Reiterating that the erosion of democratic checks and balances and the
departure from OSCE commitments directly jeopardize Georgia’s path toward Euro-Atlantic integration,
7. Emphasizing that the legitimacy of any electoral outcome is contingent upon its adherence to international standards for free, fair, and transparent elections, The members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly call on the Georgian authorities:
8. To release all Georgian political prisoners as identified by national and
international rights groups;
9. To repeal all legislation that restricts fundamental freedoms and contradicts Georgia’s international human rights obligations;
10. To initiate a comprehensive and transparent investigation into all reported electoral violations from the 2024 and 2025 elections and to hold those responsible accountable;
11. To embark on a genuine reform process, in consultation with the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR, to restore the independence of the judiciary and the Central Election Commission;
12. To guarantee a safe environment for civil society and independent media to operate without fear of retribution;

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly calls on its members and the international community:
13. To advocate persistently with the Georgian authorities for the immediate restoration of democratic norms and the organization of future electoral processes that fully comply with OSCE commitments;
14. To withhold recognition of any election results in Georgia that have not been certified as free, fair, and democratic by credible international and domestic observation missions;
15. To remain vigilant in monitoring the human rights situation in Georgia and to provide continued support to the Georgian people in their pursuit of democratic values.