Prepared by Messenger Staff
Kobakhidze: Georgia to Wait for International Recognition of Election Legitimacy Before Activating Bilateral Relations
Irakli Kobakhidze stated that Georgia will wait for each country to recognize the legitimacy of the elections, after which "this will allow us to activate bilateral relations." This was Kobakhidze's response when asked if members of the Georgian Dream government had communicated with their European partners following the elections.
"Communication continues on a regular basis. The new Minister of Foreign Affairs is currently in Malta, where ongoing meetings are held in the OSCE format, and we will continue these discussions. There has also been some confidential telephone communication, including with European Union representatives," Kobakhidze explained.
"At this stage, our consultations are primarily in multilateral formats, such as with the OSCE and the European Union. We will wait for each country to recognize the legitimacy of the elections, and once that happens, we will activate bilateral relations. It is crucial that everyone accepts the OSCE/ODIHR's conclusions. Once we receive this recognition, we will engage actively with any country," Kobakhidze added.
Public Defender Reports Police Misconduct Against Protest Detainees
Public Defender Levan Ioseliani has reported widespread allegations of police misconduct against detainees arrested during ongoing protests.
"My office continues visiting arrested and injured individuals. So far, my trustees have visited 260 people, and it is regrettable that 188 of them report improper treatment by the police," Ioseliani stated.
Representatives of the Public Defender's office have conducted visits to temporary detention centers and civil clinics across multiple locations, including Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, and other cities. Many detainees have alleged beatings and mistreatment during their detention.
