Representatives of the Permanent Delegation of the Parliament of Georgia took part in the work of the Plenary Session and sittings of the Committees held in the virtual format within the Winter Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

The Plenary Session, addressed by the President of the OSCE PA, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and the OSCE Secretary General, was attended by members of the Georgian Parliament, Head of the OSCE Permanent Delegation Nikoloz Samkharadze and members Kakha Kutchava, Maka Botchorishvili and Gela Mikadze.

During the joint meeting of the three Committees (Committee on Political Affairs and Security, Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment, and Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions), M. Bochorishvili spoke about the challenges in the OSCE region in terms of peace and security and the importance of peaceful settlement of conflicts in the region. She thanked the current OSCE Chairman-in-Office and the Swedish Foreign Minister for his visit to Georgia.

"After the 100th anniversary of the occupation of Georgia by Soviet Russia, which hindered the democratic development of Georgia for several decades, today we are still fighting against the occupation of Georgian territories by Russia'', - the MP remarked and paid special attention to the illegal detention of Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze by the Russian occupation regime in Tskhinvali and the decision of giving him a 12-year prison sentence. She underlined the importance of effective steps taken by the international community to ensure the immediate release of Z. Gakheladze and other illegally detained Georgian citizens.

According to M. Bochorishvili, the responsibility for these actions lies with Russia, as a force exercising effective control, which is confirmed by the decision of the International Court of Human Rights of January 21, 2021. As she added, it is necessary to consolidate the international community in order for the Russian Federation to stop illegal actions in the occupied territories of Georgia, respect Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and fulfill its international commitments, including the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement.

The Head of the OSCE Parliamentary Delegation, Nikoloz Samkharadze, took part in the work of the General Committee on Political Affairs and Security and addressed the members of the Committee. He spoke about the day of the Soviet occupation, the constant threat coming from Russia, which hinders the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, causing destabilization in some countries, as well as in the South Caucasus and the Black Sea region. The head of the Delegation reviewed the problem of “borderization” and the grace situation in the occupied regions, new geopolitical shifts and the dangerously increased military presence of Russia in the region.

N. Samkharadze stressed the importance of the decision of the ECHR in favor of Georgia and noted the need for active involvement of the West in the region.

"Given the current and new challenges (including the growing hybrid threat), democracies shall work together against Russia's aggressive actions to uphold our common values and principles and safeguard EU security. Cooperation with the West in the field of security and defense is very important for us and we assure you that Georgia was, is and will be a reliable and loyal partner of the West", - N. Samkharadze stated.