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.
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Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Iran and the U.S. exchanged threats on Tuesday, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Tehran to expect the “most intense day" of attacks so far. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “anyone who entertains the illusion of destroying Iran knows nothing of history."
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has threatened to block the strategic waterway, raising fears of disruption to global oil shipments and energy markets.
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientific data, national hydrometeorological services in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan say, adding there is no threat to the region.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
Iran and the U.S. exchanged threats on Tuesday, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Tehran to expect the “most intense day" of attacks so far. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “anyone who entertains the illusion of destroying Iran knows nothing of history."
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has threatened to block the strategic waterway, raising fears of disruption to global oil shipments and energy markets.
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientific data, national hydrometeorological services in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan say, adding there is no threat to the region.
A senior delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has been holding meetings with Georgian government officials, opposition leaders and security authorities this week, as international observers attempt to gauge the country’s political climate following last year’s contentious elections.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has told Masoud Pezeshkian, his Iranian counterpart, that violations of Turkish airspace by Iran could not be justified “for any reason whatsoever.”
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