Georgia’s interior ministry has fined Finland’s foreign minister after she expressed support for protesters at a pro-EU, anti-government rally on Tbilisi’s main avenue, Rustaveli.
Elina Valtonen, who visited Georgia on Tuesday in her role as chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), had recorded a video in front of the Georgian parliament.
“Peaceful protestors have gathered in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia, to voice their concern over the repressive direction of their country … we are here to support them,” Valtonen said in the video.
The authorities subsequently fined her 5,000 lari (€1,600) for “blocking the road,” a penalty that is frequently imposed on anti-government protesters.
Valtonen’s planned meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze was cancelled. According to the Georgian government, the cancellation was due to Valtonen’s participation in an “illegal rally” and her “false statements.” However, Valtonen said it was actually the Finnish side that cancelled the meeting, citing scheduling conflicts.
On Thursday, Valtonen addressed Kobakhidze on X and invited him to Helsinki to attend a demonstration of his choosing.
“In this spirit, as Chair of the OSCE and 50 years since the signing of this document, I invite you, @PM_Kobakhidze, to come to Finland, meet the free press and observe any demonstration of your liking,” Valtonen said.
“PS. Sorry I had to cancel our meeting in Tbilisi because of clashing schedules,” she added.
Valtonen’s attendance at the rally was criticized by multiple Georgian politicians from the ruling party, as well as by Russia’s ambassador to the U.N., Mikhail Ulyanov, who called it “a gross interference in internal affairs of a sovereign state.”
Meanwhile, former Georgian President and leading opposition figure Salome Zourabichvili criticized the government’s move, saying the fines are “a signal to the world.”
“Georgian Nightmare intimidates diplomats, silences citizens, and abandons European principles. Citizens’ voices are suppressed, democratic norms ignored, and freedom is under attack. Europe must not look away!” Zourabichvili said in a post on X.
Street protests have been going on for more than 300 days since Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, suspended the country’s bid to join the EU.
The OSCE is chaired by a different country each year. The seat is held by Finland in 2025.