Georgian PM cancels meeting with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for attending ‘unlawful’ rally in Tbilisi

The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, has cancelled a scheduled meeting with Finnish Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Elina Valtonen, after she attended a rally outside the parliament building in Tbilisi which local authorities describe as an ‘unlawful’ gathering, Georgian's public broadcaster reported citing an official statement. 

Valtonen attended the rally in front of the Georgian Parliament yesterday and shared a video message on social media.

“Due to participation in an unlawful rally and the dissemination of false statements yesterday, the Prime Minister has decided to cancel the planned meeting with the Finnish Foreign Minister,” the Georgian government’s statement reads, according to Georgian's First Channel News. 

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, arrived in Georgia from Armenia yesterday as part of her South Caucasus tour. Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili hosted her in Tbilisi. Valtonen is set to depart for Azerbaijan from Georgia, according to the report.

During her October 14 visit to Armenia, Valtonen met with PM Nikol Pashinyan and congratulated on the occasion of the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, expressing confidence that it will significantly contribute to building a stable future for Armenia and fostering cooperation in the region.