STATEMENT by the Permanent Representative of Georgia to the OSCE at the Permanent Council
STATEMENT
by the Permanent Representative of Georgia
H.E. Alexander Maisuradze
in response to Opening Address by the Chairman-in-Office, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, Ignazio Cassis
at the 1548th Special Meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council
Vienna, 15 January 2026
Mr. Chairperson,
I would like to join colleagues in warmly welcoming the Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis back to the Permanent Council. We wish you, Federal Councilor, and the Swiss delegation to the OSCE best of success in your important task.
The European security continues to face unprecedented strain as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine ends its fourth year. In this context, we welcome the Swiss Chairpersonship’s focus on Ukraine and on managing the consequences of the conflict through OSCE’s existing support mechanisms.
Dear Federal Councillor,
The OSCE is confronted with range of complex challenges, making strong leadership and steadfast commitment to our shared values more essential than ever.
The core principles of sovereignty, non-use of force and territorial integrity, as enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act, remain under continuous attack.
Notingly, this is not a new reality for Georgia. My country was the first target of Russia’s aggression. Since restoring its independence in the 1990s, Georgia has been subjected to Russia’s sustained conventional and hybrid warfare, followed by the full-scale military invasion in August 2008.
Today, Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions – representing twenty percent of Georgia sovereign territories - remain under the occupation, exclusively controlled, isolated and heavily militarized by Russia in grave violation of international law and the founding principles of the OSCE.
The consequences of this occupation are severe: ethnic cleansing, tragic cases of torture and murders, violations of fundamental human rights, and hundreds of thousands of displaced persons and refugees still unable to return to their homes.
The Russian Federation is steadily advancing policies aimed at incorporating the occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions into its own military, political, legal, economic and social structures.
The continued militarization of the occupied regions further heightens security risks. Plans to establish a permanent Russian naval base in Ochamchire, the unlawful operation of Sokhumi airport and unauthorized flights, railway and naval connections between Sokhumi and Russian cities, pose serious challenges to Georgia’s security and regional stability at large.
Let me recall that Russia’s responsibility for the occupation and the human rights violations on the ground has been confirmed by international courts. Yet, Russia continues to disregard its obligations and the EU-mediated 2008 Ceasefire Agreement remains unimplemented. International security and human rights mechanisms and EU Monitoring Mission are still denied access to the occupied regions.
Georgia’s objective is peaceful resolution of conflict and restoration of its territorial integrity. In this regard, Geneva International Discussions remain an important mechanism to that end. This format remains the only negotiation framework involving Georgia and Russia with the participation of key international actors, including the OSCE, EU, UN and US, to address Russia’s accountability for the illegal occupation of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali regions, ensure compliance with international obligations, including the Ceasefire Agreement, and facilitate the return of IDPs and refugees. Progress on these issues is essential for lasting peace and security.
Against this backdrop, we expect that peaceful resolution of Russia-Georgia war, in line with the principles of the international law, will be placed high in the OSCE’s and Swiss Chairpersonship’s agenda. In this context, Federal Councilor, we would appreciate your visit to Georgia, early in your Chairpersonship.
Excellency,
Let me also underline the importance of the Swiss Chairpersonship’s priorities, which are especially relevant amid increasingly complex security environment. The role of Chairpersonship is crucial in ensuring that the OSCE remains an effective platform for dialogue.
We firmly believe that the OSCE is uniquely positioned to remain one of the key pillars for security-related dialogue and discussions. Conflict prevention and resolution, grounded in the principles of international law, must remain at the core of its mission. To this end, it is essential to safeguard the OSCE’s work and mandates from politically motivated agendas and the application of double standards, as such practices undermine the Organization’s credibility and effectiveness.
Finally, Georgia will continue to support Chairpersonship’s efforts to strengthen the functionality of the OSCE. We reaffirm commitment towards constructive cooperation with the organization and its independent institutions. We trust that our good intensions and constructive approach will be reciprocated in the same spirit, enabling meaningful dialogue, mutual understanding and progress toward our shared objectives.
Federal Councillor, let me once again reiterate Georgia’s full support and wish you success you and your teams in Vienna and Bern.
Thank you!