'Civil society has the right to participate safely': OSCE chair responds to Georgian authorities

At the OSCE Human Dimension Conference in Warsaw, a representative of Switzerland, the organisation’s chair for 2026, said that the Chairpersonship was concerned about remarks made by the authorities in Georgia regarding the participation of Georgian civil society representatives in the conference, as well as information received from human rights defenders.

The Swiss representative’s statement followed comments by Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili about NGO representatives attending the conference in Warsaw. On 7 October, Papuashvili said he did not understand how they had paid for the trip or who was funding them:

“How do they pay for these trips, and who funds them? These organisations are not registered in the transparency register. If they do not disclose [the source of their income] to the state, it means they are funded by ‘black money’. This is further evidence that organisations in Georgia receive ‘black money’, including from various European institutions,” the speaker said.

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What did the Swiss representative say?

“Providing a platform where civil society representatives can participate and engage with OSCE participating States and executive structures is one of the OSCE’s core values. They must be able to do so without facing any negative consequences.

This is essential for the OSCE’s mechanisms to function. We are concerned about comments made in connection with the participation of Georgian civil society representatives in this conference, as well as reports received from various human rights defenders attending the OSCE Human Dimension Conference in Warsaw. We reiterate the importance of ensuring safe participation in OSCE events, without any reprisals.”

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Incident at the conference

The conference in Warsaw is attended by Baia Pataraia, head of the Georgian NGO Sapari, and Tamar Oniani, head of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association.

On 5 October, during a speech by a representative of the Georgian delegation, Pataraia held up a banner reading: “Free all Georgian political prisoners.”

Pataraia says her protest was peaceful and silent, and that she had arranged it in advance in accordance with OSCE rules.

“Wherever I find myself alongside the [Georgian] government, I will remind them that prisons are full of political prisoners and that the Georgian people will never accept this,” she says.

Pataraia adds that Germany, Slovenia and other countries have urged Georgia to implement the recommendations of the Moscow Mechanism and stop persecuting media representatives, politicians and civil society members.

In this context, she also criticised the Georgian authorities’ bid to make Georgia the OSCE chair in 2027.

“They want benefits, money, prestige and power from everyone, but they themselves fulfil none of their obligations,” Pataraia said indignantly.

The ruling Georgian Dream party is seeking to secure the OSCE chairpersonship for 2027. Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili says the country has already submitted its application to the OSCE and hopes to win the support of participating States. However, according to the publication Rapporteur, EU member states do not support Georgia’s bid.

OSCE conference in Warsaw