The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE (OSCE PA) has adopted “The Hague Declaration,” which includes a resolution on the situation in Georgia. The primary sponsor of the resolution, “Protecting Election Integrity and Fundamental Freedoms in Georgia,” was US Congressman Joe Wilson.
According to the document, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
- expresses concern over the conduct of the parliamentary elections in Georgia on October 26, 2024, and notes that reports from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights documented serious violations;
- is concerned by reports of potential violations during the local elections in October 2025, including signs of polling station fraud, vote manipulation, voter bribery, the use of “carousel voting” schemes, and the obstruction of opposition representatives and observers;
- condemns the adoption of restrictive laws, including the law “On Transparency of Foreign Influence,” amendments to the law “On Assemblies and Manifestations,” as well as changes to the Code of Administrative Offenses, which, according to the authors of the resolution, significantly restrict freedom of association, media, expression, and assembly;
- expresses concern over the systematic use of administrative resources and the tightening of institutional control, which, in the assembly’s view, creates an uneven playing field, undermines public trust in democratic processes, and leads to the de facto establishment of single-party rule;
- condemns the arbitrary detention and harassment of political opposition representatives, journalists, and peaceful demonstrators advocating for Georgia’s democratic and European future;
- emphasizes that the undermining of democratic checks and balances, as well as the retreat from commitments made to the OSCE, directly threaten Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration;
- notes that the legitimacy of any election results depends on compliance with international standards for free, fair, and transparent elections.
In the resolution, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly calls on the Georgian authorities to:
- release all Georgian political prisoners recognized as such by national and international human rights organizations;
- repeal legislation that restricts fundamental freedoms and contradicts Georgia’s human rights commitments;
- conduct a comprehensive and transparent investigation into all reports of violations during the 2024 and 2025 elections and hold those responsible accountable;
- initiate genuine reforms to restore the independence of the judiciary and the Central Election Commission, in consultation with the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR;
- ensure a safe environment for civil society and independent media to operate without threats of pressure or harassment.
In addition, the OSCE PA called on its members and the international community to:
- continue engaging with the Georgian authorities to restore democratic norms and conduct future elections in full compliance with commitments to the OSCE;
- refuse to recognize the results of any elections in Georgia that are not deemed free, fair, and democratic by credible international and local observation missions;
- continue to closely monitor the human rights situation in Georgia and support the Georgian people in their pursuit of democratic values.
