OSCE PA Elects Georgian Chairman, Passes Pro-Georgia Resolution
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Friday, July 13
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE PA) has re-elected a Georgian lawmaker from the European Georgia opposition party as its head and passed a resolution condemning Russia’s actions in Georgia on July 11.
Gigi Tsereteli is the new head of OSCE PA for one year.
Austrian parliamentarian Christine Muttonen stepped down in November 2017 as the head of OSCE PA and as the most senior vice president of the assembly, Tsereteli automatically took the post.
Now, he has officially been elected to the position by OSCE PA members during the 27th OSCE PA Annual Session.
The same day, OSCE PA passed a resolution titled "10 years after the August War”, initiated by Georgian lawmaker Sophio Katsarava.
"Despite Russia’s resistance at all stages, the resolution was passed with 45 supporting it and two went against,” Katsarava said.
“I would like to thank the co-initiators: the US, Canadian, German, Norwegian, French, Spanish, Latvian, Lithuanian and Romanian delegations for adopting this document of such importance,” Katsarava stated.
The resolution calls on Russia to withdraw its military troops from Georgian territories and to fully fulfill the ceasefire agreement signed with Georgia after the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
The resolution also condemns the murder of Georgian citizens Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria, and David Basharuli by the Russia controlled people in Georgia’s occupied territories and demands Russia holds accountable the people charged for these crimes.
The resolution speaks about the necessity of admitting human rights international monitoring missions into Georgian occupied territories and the urgency for a dignified and safe return of internally displaced Georgians to their homes.
The OSCE PA calls on the OSCE to intensify efforts to fully restore the monitoring mission on Georgian territory within its internationally recognized borders.
