**Georgia’s Government Refuses to Grant OSCE Monitoring Access**
In a concerning move, Georgia’s ruling party “Georgian Dream” has not granted the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) permission to monitor the trials of political prisoners. This is according to Giorgi Burjanadze, a member of the coalition “My Voice for the EU” and a lawyer.
**Background: Why Monitoring Matters**
In December 2024, former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili invited OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to address the cases of political prisoners. ODIHR has a methodology in place that requires courts to grant them access to trials, which would enable them to monitor these proceedings. However, since December, this permission has not been granted.
**The Significance of Monitoring**
Burjanadze emphasizes that monitoring is particularly important after trials are closed, as it provides an opportunity for ODIHR to assess the fairness and transparency of the judicial process. The absence of monitoring raises questions about the government’s intentions.
**A Shift in Stance?**
Interestingly, “Georgian Dream” itself invited OSCE/ODIHR to monitor trials back in 2013. At that time, they had nothing to hide, according to Burjanadze. So, what are they hiding today?
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