OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Adopts Hague Declaration, Georgian Delegation Walks Out
By Messenger Staff
Thursday, July 9, 2026
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopted the Hague Declaration and two accompanying resolutions on July 8, closing out its 33rd Annual Session with language expressing serious concern over democratic backsliding in Georgia and calling for the release of political prisoners.
The Georgian delegation, headed by Nikoloz Samkharadze, chair of the Georgian Dream-led parliament's foreign affairs committee, refused to take part in the vote and left the session. Samkharadze said the amended declaration "deliberately distorts political reality in Georgia, gravely misrepresents and falsifies facts, completely disregards violent attacks on state institutions, and arbitrarily interprets the election observation and Moscow Mechanism report." He called the walkout a form of protest against what he described as a threat to the country's national interests.
OSCE PA President Pere Joan Pons criticized the decision. "Leaving the seats empty even in your country was not a good decision, so you do exactly the same here," he said, adding that democracy requires staying at the table to resolve disagreements rather than abandoning the room.
The Hague Declaration flagged Georgia's democratic backsliding, pointing to violence against protesters, opposition figures and journalists, along with restrictions on civil society and independent media, citing the Moscow Mechanism report. It also reaffirmed support for Georgian democratic governance, political pluralism and fundamental freedoms, and backed Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, condemning Russia's continued occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia/Tskhinvali.
It called on Georgian authorities to let civil society, media and opposition figures operate freely and safely, avoid politically motivated prosecution, and implement the Moscow Mechanism report's recommendations in full.
A separate resolution, "Upholding Election Integrity and Fundamental Freedoms in Georgia," was put forward by U.S. Representative Joe Wilson, a longtime critic of the Georgian Dream government. It cited OSCE/ODIHR findings of voter intimidation and irregularities in the October 2024 parliamentary elections, and alleged falsification, vote tampering, bribery and obstruction of opposition observers during the October 2025 local elections.
It criticized the Foreign Agents Law and amendments to the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations, saying they restrict association, media and expression. It also condemned the use of state resources to consolidate power, arguing this has produced an uneven playing field and de facto one-party rule, along with arbitrary detentions targeting opposition members, journalists and protesters.
The resolution called on Tbilisi to free all political prisoners, repeal restrictive legislation, investigate reported election violations, and work with the Venice Commission and ODIHR to restore judicial independence. It urged OSCE states to withhold recognition of election results not certified as free and fair, and to keep monitoring the human rights situation, including in Abkhazia and South Ossetia/Tskhinvali.
A third resolution, on international justice and human rights, encouraged dialogue and a peaceful resolution to Georgia's political tensions. It condemned legislation restricting civil society and media, along with excessive force against protesters, and called for the release of those arbitrarily detained and independent investigations into the 2024 protests, with accountability and reparations for victims.
