Helsinki Commission Leadership Statement on OSCE Moscow Mechanism Report on Georgia
By Messenger Staff
Friday, March 20, 2026
U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Co-Chairman Representative Joe Wilson, R-S.C., Ranking Member Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., and Commissioner Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., issued a joint statement following the release of the OSCE's Moscow Mechanism report on Georgia.
The Commissioners stated that the report is clear in its finding that Georgian Dream is robbing the Georgian people of their hard-won freedom and turning their country into an isolated, authoritarian state. They called on U.S. officials to join with European partners to use sanctions and other available tools to insist that Georgian authorities heed the recommendations in the report. The statement specifically demanded the release of all political prisoners, the dropping of politically motivated charges against opposition politicians, and the repeal of undemocratic and unjust laws.
The Moscow Mechanism report, released on March 10, 2026, details the inhumane treatment of protestors, political prisoners, and other dissenters by Georgian authorities. On the matter of unjust prosecutions, the report found that proceedings against protesters tend to progress swiftly and result in harsh sanctions, while investigations against those allegedly engaged in violence against them, including security forces, have stalled.
Regarding the abuse of protestors, political opposition, and journalists, the Rapporteur discerned a pattern of violence and other abuses. In some instances, the report noted the violence has arguably reached the threshold of torture, combined with almost complete impunity for the perpetrators.
The report also highlighted the public intimidation of journalists. It found that public television is engaged in smear campaigns against independent media and noted reports of civilian violent groups helping police to chase, harass, and attack journalists.
