UNM’s Pavlenishvili: OSCE promotes cooperation, its agenda on elections expected

Irakli Pavlenishvili, a member of the United National Movement, says the statement by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly regarding its visit to Georgia should be viewed in the context of the organization’s mission to promote cooperation and dialogue.

“The OSCE works primarily to ensure cooperation, dialogue and agreement between various actors and parties. That is why the agenda they have is understandable, including statements that elections should be the way to change the government. What else should we expect from the OSCE — that it should say governments should change in some other way?” Pavlenishvili said.

According to him, the Assembly’s message should not be interpreted one-sidedly, and its main purpose is to help defuse the political crisis.

“We have always said that we have never used violent methods and have always been involved in peaceful resistance and protest. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly statement should not be read one-sidedly. Its key messages concern political prisoners, free elections and the need to defuse the crisis,” he stated.

Pavlenishvili argued that the political crisis in the country was created by Bidzina Ivanishvili and accused the authorities of political persecution and election manipulation. He said that focusing only on the opposition in discussions about the OSCE statement would be a one-sided interpretation.

“The organization is oriented toward cooperation and dialogue. Its main message is that the crisis must be defused, including through free elections and consensus between political forces,” Pavlenishvili noted.

He added that free elections cannot take place if opposition representatives remain in prison and called for the release of what he described as prisoners of conscience and the revision of legislation that, according to him, Western institutions consider repressive.

For reference, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly stated after its visit that violence against state institutions is unacceptable and that political change should occur through elections, not through attempts to overthrow institutions. The Assembly also emphasized that resolving Georgia’s political problems is the responsibility of domestic actors and called on all sides to begin direct communication to restore dialogue. It also noted that banning political parties or restricting normal political or civic activities is not the way forward and that boycotts cannot replace political engagement within democratic institutions.

In its statement on the visit, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly stressed that ” the use of violence against state institutions is not acceptable. Change must be made through the ballot box and through policy-making bodies, not through violence aimed at overthrowing them.” The Assembly also noted that resolving Georgia’s political challenges is the responsibility of domestic actors and called on all sides to start direct communication in order to restore dialogue.

The statement also emphasized that banning parties or regular political or civil activity is not the way forward, and politics should take place within the relevant institutions, and boycotts cannot serve as an alternative to dialogue and political activism.