Georgia’s Foreign Ministry has filed a note of protest to the OSCE Secretariat and participating states after the organization’s current chair, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, took part in a small anti-government protest during her visit to Tbilisi.
Peaceful protestors have gathered in front of the Parliament Building in Tbilisi, Georgia, to voice their concern over the repressive direction of their country. They have every right to democracy, to freedom of expression and basic human rights.
We are here to support them. pic.twitter.com/6axn6usXay
Stay Ahead with Azerbaijan.usGet exclusive translations, top stories, and analysis — straight to your inbox.— Elina Valtonen (@elinavaltonen) October 14, 2025
According to Georgian media, Valtonen’s appearance at the rally prompted Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to cancel their planned meeting, calling the incident “incompatible with diplomatic protocol.”
The ministry accused the Finnish official of siding with opposition activists and interfering in the country’s internal affairs.
The controversy deepened when Valtonen published an X (formerly Twitter) post addressed directly to the Georgian prime minister, defending her stance on democracy and civil rights.
Elina Valtonen (@elinavaltonen)
“Prime Minister Kobakhidze, the Georgian future is only for the Georgian people to decide… For people to be able to exercise this right, they need freedom of speech and free and fair elections with political alternatives to choose from.”
Citing the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, Valtonen emphasized participating states’ commitments to fundamental freedoms and invited the Georgian leader to visit Finland to “meet the free press and observe any demonstration of your liking.”
She added a brief note: “Sorry I had to cancel our meeting in Tbilisi because of clashing schedules.”
Prime Minister Kobakhidze,
The Georgian future is only for the Georgian people to decide. The same applies to every OSCE participating state. For people to be able to exercise this right, they need freedom of speech and free and fair elections with political alternatives to…
— Elina Valtonen (@elinavaltonen) October 16, 2025
Separately, the Georgian Interior Ministry fined Valtonen 5,000 lari (about $1,800) for “illegally obstructing traffic” during the October 14 demonstration. Under Georgian law, participants in small unsanctioned blockades face administrative penalties for disrupting vehicle movement.
Officials have not confirmed whether Valtonen was formally served the violation notice before leaving Georgia.
