Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen Urges Georgia to Protect Democracy and Civil Society During Visit
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Elina Valtonen, Finland's Foreign Minister and current Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), visited Georgia on October 14-15 as part of her tour of the South Caucasus. Her visit included meetings with Georgian officials, civil society representatives, and a trip to the occupation line near Tskhinvali.
Valtonen met with Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on October 14. According to a post on X, Valtonen said they discussed "the unresolved conflict, the need for Russia to fulfil its obligations under the 2008 six-point agreement, and the OSCE's role." She added that she also raised concerns about Georgia's domestic political climate, writing that "safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms is key to resilience and sovereignty."
The Finnish minister expressed alarm over what she described as growing repression. "Despite repeated calls from international bodies, including the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, repression against civil society actors, peaceful protesters, and independent journalists continues," Valtonen said. "Silencing these voices undermines not only democratic values, but also the resilience of society in the face of growing security challenges."
She urged the Georgian government to "find a way out of the crisis and restore trust in democratic institutions," emphasizing that the OSCE "stands ready to help."
While Valtonen openly voiced her concerns, the Georgian Foreign Ministry omitted any mention of her remarks on democracy or human rights in its official statements. The Ministry and pro-government media instead highlighted Foreign Minister Botchorishvili's comments, which focused on the OSCE's support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"The traditional visit of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to Georgia is a clear demonstration of the Organization's unwavering support for our country's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Botchorishvili said at a joint press conference. She added that the two sides discussed the situation in the South Caucasus, Georgia's security and humanitarian priorities, and relations with the European Union.
At the same press conference, Valtonen said she conveyed "serious concerns" about Georgia's restrictive legislation and the government's actions targeting civil society, journalists, and opposition figures. She welcomed Georgia's continued engagement in the Geneva International Discussions and the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), calling such participation "vital for progress."
Valtonen emphasized that reconciliation and accountability were essential for peacebuilding. "The OSCE stands ready to offer expertise in cooperation with the EU Monitoring Mission. Reconciliation and dealing with the past represent crucial elements in building peace for the future," she said.
She also voiced concern about the freezing of civil society organizations' bank accounts and restrictive amendments to the Law on Grants that require government approval for foreign funding. "These actions are of grave concern," she said. "We also strongly condemn the arrests of almost all opposition leaders and call for free, fair, and proportionate legal proceedings for all those arrested for exercising their freedom of expression and assembly."
Valtonen underlined the importance of independent voices. "NGOs, human rights defenders, and journalists are the lifeblood of democratic resilience," she said. "Their voices must not only be heard, they must be protected."
Reflecting on Georgia's democratic trajectory, Valtonen said, "It will be up to the Georgian people to decide what kind of government, what kind of future they want for themselves." She noted that while the EU would welcome Georgia's membership, "in recent months we have observed that the Georgian government has not been willing to take many of those steps, or some of the steps it has taken have been in the opposite direction."
Valtonen met with representatives of Georgian civil society organizations on October 14, later writing on X that "the space for civil society and free media in Georgia is shrinking at a worrying pace." She reaffirmed Finland's "full support for Georgian civil society in their aspirations for a democratic and European future."
On October 15, Valtonen traveled to the occupation line near Tskhinvali, accompanied by the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM). "Today I witnessed the excellent work of EUMM Georgia in maintaining stability on the ground for the benefit of local communities," she wrote afterward. "As Chair of the OSCE, Finland stands firmly by the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders, as enshrined in the Helsinki Principles. We call on Russia to fulfil its obligations under the 2008 agreement and withdraw to pre-conflict positions."
At a press conference a day earlier, Foreign Minister Botchorishvili said Valtonen's visit to the occupation line was "very important" and would allow her to "personally observe the situation on the ground." She said the EUMM "has the ability to accompany the visit and provide relevant information as an observer organization about what is happening along Georgia's occupation line."
Valtonen concluded her visit by reaffirming the OSCE's readiness to support Georgia in strengthening democratic institutions, protecting fundamental freedoms, and addressing the consequences of conflict.
