A planned meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, was abruptly cancelled this week.
The Georgian government announced that the meeting was called off “due to participation in an illegal rally and false statements” by Valtonen, who had visited a demonstration outside the Parliament building in Tbilisi a day earlier.
Officials accused the Finnish minister of violating Georgian law and the Vienna Convention, claiming her actions amounted to open support for what they called “radical groups.”
Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said Valtonen had “insulted Georgian society” and accused her of “instrumentalizing international institutions” against Georgia’s democracy. Several lawmakers echoed those remarks, calling her visit a “violation of sovereignty.”
Valtonen firmly rejected the accusations. According to Finnish media, she said the meeting’s cancellation was initiated by her delegation because of scheduling changes. She added that her brief stop at the protest was intended to observe ongoing demonstrations and express support for freedom of speech — a key OSCE principle.
“I was there to see the demonstrations that have been taking place for weeks and to express my support for freedom of speech.
"In this spirit, as Chair of the OSCE and 50 years since the signing of this document, I invite you,
@PM_Kobakhidze to come to Finland, meet the free press and observe any demonstration to your liking" she said in a post shared on her X account.
During her stay, the OSCE Chair also visited the occupation line near the village of Odzisi, praising the work of the EU Monitoring Mission and reaffirming Finland’s “firm support” for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In her words, “We call on Russia to fulfil its obligations under the 2008 agreement and return to its pre-conflict positions.”
However, Georgian officials saw a contradiction in her message. “What is the value of a statement of support for sovereignty in Odzisi when you yourself violate sovereignty on Rustaveli Avenue?” Papuashvili said, referring to Valtonen’s earlier appearance at the protest site in central Tbilisi.
The Georgian Ministry of Internal affairs has also announced that Valtonen was fined 5000GEL (about $1800) for blocking the road on Rustaveli Avenue.
The incident underscores growing strain between the Georgian government and Western institutions over democratic standards, rule of law, and freedom of assembly — issues that have fuelled ongoing protests and political polarization inside the country.
Valtonen’s visit to Georgia came as part of a wider South Caucasus tour. In neighbouring Azerbaijan and Armenia, her meetings took place at the highest political levels — a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere in Tbilisi.
In Baku, she was received by President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, with discussions focused on regional peace efforts, OSCE cooperation, and post-conflict stabilisation. In Yerevan, Valtonen met Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, where talks centred on reconciliation and border issues.
While in both capitals the OSCE Chair emphasised dialogue and cooperation, her trip to Georgia highlighted how increasingly defensive Tbilisi’s relationship with Western partners has become.
What was meant to be a routine OSCE chairmanship tour has turned into a revealing snapshot of Georgia’s shifting diplomatic posture, a government increasingly wary of Western criticism, and a Europe still trying to engage a key partner in a region on edge.
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy...
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s effor...
China’s GJ-21 carrier-based stealth reconnaissance and strike drone has completed its first take-off and landing on board the Sichuan, the co...
The Middle East conflict remains tense as diplomatic efforts continue alongside renewed Houthi attacks. Iran says it remains open to mediation, while the Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted a ballistic missile fired towards the kingdom.
Evacuations and the provision of humanitarian aid in the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian town of Oleshky have begun, a senior Ukrainian official said on Friday. In a statement on Telegram, David Arakhamia said a six-day ceasefire was holding, and that more details would follow.
Rescuers searched the wreckage of two high-speed trains in central Spain on Thursday as the death toll rose to a provisional 74, making it the country's second fatal high-speed rail disaster this year.
Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday as part of efforts to reach a deal between the U.S. and Iran, according to an official briefed on the talks.
UN human rights experts comprising a group including Special Rapporteurs and independent experts who are part of the UN Human Rights Council, have criticised French authorities over their handling of nationwide student protests.
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan surged by 330 per cent in 2026 despite a four-year ban, the United Nations said on Thursday. Afghan authorities disputed the findings, while Japan urged continued support for farmers seeking alternative livelihoods.
Central Asia could gain up to $640 million a year from closer energy cooperation, but strained electricity grids threaten to limit those gains, with Kazakhstan particularly exposed to regional power shortages and growing pressure on its network.
Georgia and Azerbaijan are stepping up efforts to boost trade, strengthen transport links between Asia and Europe and resolve a longstanding border dispute, as both countries seek to deepen their strategic partnership.
People travelling between Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan could soon be able to pay for purchases using their usual banking apps. Central banks from the five countries are working on linking their national payment systems.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment