Opposition urges OSCE to intervene as Georgia faces ‘obstruction of transparency” in courts

An opposition figure in Georgia has urged the OSCE/ODIHR Monitoring Mission to move beyond passive observation and take active steps to prevent what he described as a systematic obstruction of transparency in the country’s judiciary.

“We call on the OSCE/ODIHR Monitoring Mission to respond not only through observation, but by preventing the ongoing obstruction of transparency,” said Tengo Tevzadze, a leader of the Coalition for Change.

Tevzadze accused the government and what he termed “Bidzina Ivanishvili’s court” of barring international monitors from attending politically sensitive trials. He said lawyers representing 11 alleged political prisoners had requested the presence of OSCE observers but were refused, calling it an effort to conceal judicial injustice from both the Georgian public and international community.

He further claimed that court authorities were banning video and audio recordings of proceedings and threatening attendees with sanctions if material was shared online.

“This is another example of how the ruling Georgian Dream party wants to hide what is happening in courtrooms,” Tevzadze said, adding that political prisoners are facing long sentences on what he called fabricated charges.

He reiterated demands for fair and public trials, saying Georgia’s judiciary was no longer capable of ensuring either under current conditions.