The UK, together with 23 other countries, calls on Georgia to reverse democratic backsliding and to implement in full the recommendations of the 2026 OSCE Moscow Mechanism.

In a joint statement, 24 OSCE participating States call on the Georgian government to fully implement the recommendations of the Moscow Mechanism.

They also call on the government to continue its engagement and to consider the Rapporteur’s findings as a basis for constructive dialogue and reform.

The report provides a detailed and credible assessment of developments in Georgia since spring 2024 and offers clear recommendations addressed to the Georgian authorities, to participating States, and to the wider international community.

At the same time, we welcome the decision of the Georgian authorities to facilitate a country visit by the Rapporteur and to organise high-level meetings with government institutions. We encourage the Georgian authorities to continue this engagement and to view the Rapporteur’s findings as a basis for constructive dialogue and reform.

We also wish to express our deep appreciation to members of Georgian civil society, journalists, human rights defenders and other interlocutors who engaged with the Rapporteur. Their willingness to provide testimony and documentation was essential to the integrity and depth of this report. Their contribution underscores the vital role of civil society in any democratic society and the importance of ensuring an environment in which they can operate freely and safely.

The Rapporteur’s central finding is unambiguous. As the report states: “In the period covered by the mandate, a marked democratic backsliding has taken place in Georgia.” The report identifies a pattern of violence and other abuses against protesters, political opponents and journalists, combined with what the Rapporteur describes as “almost complete impunity of perpetrators.” It further finds that, in some cases, the treatment of detainees “has arguably reached the threshold of torture” and that investigations into allegations of ill-treatment have been ineffective.”

“We urge Georgia to address democratic backsliding and implement in full the Moscow Mechanism recommendations. Today, we wish to highlight the following steps in particular:

First, the Georgian authorities should ensure that law enforcement acts in line with international standards, and conduct prompt, independent and impartial investigations into all allegations of torture and ill treatment, holding those responsible to account.

Second, Georgia should repeal or fundamentally revise legislation that is incompatible with its international human rights obligations and commitments, including laws on transparency of foreign influence, foreign agents registration, and related amendments affecting grants, broadcasting and political participation. As the Rapporteur notes, these laws are not capable of being brought into compliance through minor amendments alone. In doing so, we encourage the Georgian authorities to reestablish their cooperation with ODIHR and the Venice Commission and implement their recommendations in full.

Third, the authorities should refrain from arbitrary detention and prosecution of political opponents, journalists and other participants of public debate, withdraw arbitrarily brought charges, and release all persons detained for political reasons.

Fourth, Georgia should halt efforts to ban opposition parties, withdraw pending applications in this regard, and ensure that political pluralism is fully respected.

Finally, the report underscores the need to restore trust in the judiciary by strengthening judicial independence, ensuring fair trial guarantees, and reforming institutions such as the High Council of Justice in line with long standing OSCE and Venice Commission recommendations”, reads the statement.

The statement was issued on behalf of the participating States that, acting together, invoked paragraph 12 of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism in respect of Georgia: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, as well as on behalf of Poland.