**U.S. Lawmaker Urges OSCE Secretary General to Postpone Georgia Visit**
In a move that could further complicate relations between the international community and Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream (GD), U.S. Representative Joe Wilson has urged the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioğlu to postpone his planned visit to Georgia.
Wilson, who is also a co-sponsor of the MEGOBARI Act in the U.S. Senate, expressed concerns that meetings with high-level GD officials would only serve to legitimize their positions and recent government actions. In a letter to Secretary General Sinirlioğlu, Wilson noted that the OSCE has already concluded that the 2024 general elections in Georgia were marred by irregularities, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the GD government.
Since the October elections, GD officials have been accused of waging a “brutal campaign of violence” against protesters and opposition forces. Additionally, the party has adopted controversial amendments to the law that require foreign donors to obtain executive approval before disbursing grants to local organizations. Wilson warned that if Secretary General Sinirlioğlu proceeds with his planned visit, it would send a message that the OSCE endorses the GD government and its anti-democratic actions.
**A History of Controversy**
This is not the first time that an international official’s visit to Georgia has been met with controversy. In January, the OSCE PA President Pia Kauma cancelled her planned visit to Georgia after receiving calls from President Salome Zurabishvili, opposition forces, and U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson. Similarly, in December 2024, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset was harshly criticized by President Zurabishvili, the opposition, and civil society after he visited Tbilisi and announced plans to create a joint commission to review the Foreign Agents’ law.
**A Call for Action**
The four main opposition forces in Georgia have issued a joint statement urging the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the Committee of Ministers to take action regarding the issue of integrity of actions of Alain Berset during his visit to Georgia. They are also calling for public debates on whether Berset’s actions align with the founding principles of the Council of Europe.
In conclusion, Wilson’s letter to Secretary General Sinirlioğlu serves as a stark reminder that the international community must be vigilant in its dealings with authoritarian governments like Georgian Dream. As Wilson notes, “meetings with high-level Georgian Dream officials will only serve to legitimize their positions and recent government actions.” It remains to be seen whether Secretary General Sinirlioğlu will heed this warning and postpone his visit to Georgia.
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