On 29 January 2026, 26 participating States invoked the so-called OSCE Moscow Mechanism in order to “assess Georgia’s implementation of its OSCE commitments, with a particular focus on developments since Spring 2024”.
Professor Patrycja Grzebyk from the University of Warsaw was appointed rapporteur and carried out interviews with Georgian stakeholders in preparation for a 90-page OSCE publication entitled “Report on Developments in Georgia in Respect of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms since Spring 2024”, published on 12 March 2026. The report negatively assessed developments in Georgia over the past two years.
On 17 March, the State Security Services of Georgia contacted Mr. Ucha Nanuashvili, one of the experts with whom Professor Grzebyk regularly communicated during her research. Mr. Nanuashvili is a highly respected human rights expert who formerly served as the Ombudsman (Public Defender) of Georgia and is the founder of the Human Rights Center (HRC), one of the country’s leading non-governmental human rights organizations. The security services summoned Mr. Nanuashvili for questioning regarding his involvement with the OSCE report the following day and gave him a choice of whether to appear at the security services’ office or go through a court hearing. Mr. Nanuashvili chose the latter.
The OSCE report, ironically, details the ways in which the current Georgian government imposes limitations on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and associations, and other freedoms. The report highlighted high fines, administrative detention and criminal proceedings among the measures taken against government critics.
The measures taken against Mr. Nanuashvili can be added to future reports on the topic of democratic backsliding in Georgia.
On 18 March 2026, Mr. Nanuashvili appeared in a court hearing in Tbilisi, in connection with an ongoing investigation under article 319 of the Criminal Code, “assisting foreign countries, foreign organisations and organisations under foreign control in hostile activities”. Mr. Nanuashvili was interrogated as a witness and signed a non-disclosure agreement.
We, members of the Civic Solidarity Platform, call on the Kobakhidze government and members of the ruling Georgian Dream political party to immediately stop the harassment of Mr. Nanuashvili and any other experts involved with the OSCE report. We encourage government officials to closely study the report, and seek ways to implement the recommendations provided, rather than to confirm its findings.
Signed by:
Bir Duino (Kyrgyzstan)
Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine)
Center for Participation and Development (Georgia)
CILD (Italy)
Crude Accountability (USA)
Federation Global Initiative on Psychiatry
Freedom Files (Poland)
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor (Armenia)
Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan)
Human Rights Center Viasna (Belarus)
Human Rights Center ZMINA (Ukraine)
Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (Azerbaijan)
Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (Kazakhstan)
Legal Policy Research Center (Kazakhstan)
Norwegian Helsinki Committee (Norway)
Protection of Rights without Borders (Armenia)
Public Association Dignity (Kazakhstan)
Sphere Foundation
Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (Ukraine)