OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Concerned Over Process to Ban Opposition Parties

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Mikita Poturayev expressed concern over recent developments in Georgia. He called on the authorities to ensure that political parties and civil society can exercise their rights freely.

According to Poturayev, the ongoing process at the Constitutional Court, which aims to ban five opposition parties, is particularly alarming. In his statement, these developments raise serious concern regarding political pluralism, democratic competition and fundamental freedoms.

Poturayev notes that he respects Georgia's constitutional processes and the independence of the judicial system, but stresses that restrictions imposed on parties must meet the highest standards of legality, necessity and proportionality. In his assessment, banning parties is an exceptional measure and can be justified only under the most stringent conditions.

The Assembly President says that political disagreements should be resolved through democratic institutions, dialogue and elections, and not by excluding political opponents from public life.

Poturayev recalled that in the Hague Declaration adopted in July 2026, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly already expressed concern over attempts to ban major opposition parties. The declaration called on the authorities to refrain from politically motivated prosecution and to implement the recommendations of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism promptly and fully.

He also said that in March 2026, a high-level Assembly delegation was in Tbilisi and held meetings with the authorities, opposition parties and civil society. The delegation also raised the issue of detained demonstrators and called for the release of those who have already served more than half of their sentences, as a humanitarian step and a move toward restoring trust. Recently, the Assembly's Special Representative Luis Grass, in a letter to the authorities, once again underlined the importance of respecting the democratic opposition and maintaining genuine electoral alternatives.

Poturayev calls on the Georgian authorities to implement the recommendations of the Moscow Mechanism and to seriously consider the recommendations of the Venice Commission as well. He urges the authorities and all political actors to engage in meaningful dialogue, show restraint and refrain from violence and inflammatory rhetoric. According to him, the ODIHR recommendations issued after the 2024 parliamentary elections provide a concrete basis for restoring trust and continuing democratic reforms.

At the end of the statement, Poturayev says that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is ready to support the people of Georgia and their democratic aspirations. In his words, the Assembly reaffirms "unwavering support for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders".