Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, who currently chairs the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), has been fined by Georgian authorities after joining an unauthorized protest in Tbilisi earlier this week. According to Georgia’s Interior Ministry, Valtonen was penalized 5,000 lari (about 1,850 US dollars) for blocking a public road during the demonstration.
The protest took place outside the Georgian Parliament, where opposition supporters gathered to denounce what they described as the country’s authoritarian drift. Local reports indicate that Valtonen briefly joined the protesters and posted a video on social media, stating that she supported their “concerns about democracy and repression.”
The Georgian government condemned the act, calling Valtonen’s participation “illegal interference in domestic affairs.” Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the cancellation of a scheduled meeting with Valtonen, accusing her of crossing a diplomatic line and spreading misinformation about Georgia’s internal situation.
In a statement, the Georgian administration said that any foreign official who joins protests on Georgian soil must respect national laws and avoid actions that can be seen as political involvement. Valtonen’s team later claimed that the meeting was canceled due to “scheduling issues,” though Georgian officials maintain that her behavior was inappropriate for a visiting OSCE chair.
Relations between Tbilisi and Western governments have deteriorated in recent years. The ruling Georgian Dream Party has refused to take a confrontational stance toward Russia, instead prioritizing stability and dialogue. Western powers, however, have pushed the country to align more closely with NATO and the European Union, causing domestic divisions.
Protests have become increasingly common since early October, following local elections that the opposition claimed were rigged. Security forces have used water cannons and pepper spray to disperse demonstrators who attempted to breach government buildings.
Georgian officials argue that foreign-funded groups have been behind the unrest. Prime Minister Kobakhidze recently stated that Western intelligence agencies have been “financing and organizing” demonstrations similar to the 2014 Maidan movement in Ukraine, which resulted in regime change in Kiev and years of instability.
Valtonen’s involvement in the protest has raised questions about the neutrality of the OSCE. As chair, she is expected to maintain diplomatic balance, yet her presence at an opposition rally has fueled claims of Western bias.
The OSCE’s human rights office, ODIHR, has previously criticized Georgia for what it calls “shrinking civic space” and limits on media freedom. In turn, Georgian leaders accuse the organization of echoing Western political narratives rather than acting as an impartial mediator.
Observers note that the incident may deepen mistrust between Georgia and European institutions. The country’s leadership insists that it remains committed to democracy but refuses to “serve as a geopolitical pawn” in the broader standoff between Russia and the West.
Georgia continues to face a delicate balancing act between pursuing Western integration and maintaining pragmatic relations with Moscow. The Valtonen controversy reflects a larger power struggle over the country’s direction.
As protests persist and diplomatic tensions rise, the Georgian government has warned foreign representatives to respect its sovereignty. Whether this dispute will remain a minor diplomatic episode or escalate into a deeper rift between Georgia and the OSCE remains to be seen.