**OSCE Criticizes Georgia’s Parliamentary Elections**
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has criticized the 2024 parliamentary elections in Georgia. A joint meeting of the OSCE’s General Committees discussed the situation on February 21.
Several members expressed concern about the state of democracy in Georgia, electoral fraud, and repression. US Congressman Joe Wilson was among the critics, condemning the Georgian Dream government for holding rigged elections.
Wilson said: “The de facto Georgian Dream regime in Tbilisi stands in violation of its freely undertaken OSCE commitments to hold fair and free elections.” He called on his colleagues to insist on new elections and decline interactions with the Georgian Dream dictatorship until they fulfill their demands.
**Georgian Representatives Respond**
However, representatives from the ruling party, Georgian Dream, defended the elections. Nikoloz Samkharadze, chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, said the elections were transparent and held in a pluralistic environment.
Samkharadze accused foreign groups of pressuring OSCE observers to produce biased reports and interfering in Georgia’s electoral process. He also criticized Joe Wilson for selective criticism.
Levan Makhashvili, chair of the GD parliament European Integration Committee, defended Georgia’s foreign policy choices. He said recent events have proven that the country made the right decisions, particularly in relation to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
**OSCE Meeting**
The Winter Meeting of the OSCE PA provides an opportunity for parliamentarians to interact with ambassadors and representatives of the OSCE’s executive structures. The meeting is also when rapporteurs share their preliminary ideas for reports and draft resolutions they will present at the upcoming Annual Session.
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