OSCE Chair and Finnish Foreign Minister Fined $1,800 in Georgia for Attending Protest

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs has fined Elina Valtonen, the current Chairperson of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Finland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, 5,000 lari, equivalent to approximately $1,800 USD. The fine follows Valtonen's participation in an anti-government protest held in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi on October 14, 2025.

According to the "Interpressnews" agency and confirmed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Valtonen was administratively fined for "blocking the road/road closure" (yolun hərəkət hissəsini bağladığına görə). This fine amount is often applied to participants in the ongoing anti-government protests.

Valtonen, who was in Tbilisi as part of her South Caucasus visit (October 13-15), released a video message expressing support for the demonstrators. She stated that people are concerned about the "repressive course of their countries" and have the "full right to express their dissatisfaction peacefully". Valtonen later clarified that she did not participate as a protester, but went to observe the demonstrations and express support for freedom of speech.

In response, the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note to the OSCE Secretariat. In a formal statement, the Ministry claimed Valtonen had strayed outside her official visit program, joined "a few, but illegally blockading Tbilisi's main avenue activists," and made an "untrue statement". The Ministry alleged that Valtonen attempted to "confuse the international community" regarding the situation in Georgia. Following the incident, a planned meeting between Valtonen and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze was canceled. Both sides offered conflicting accounts of the cancellation: the government announced the Prime Minister canceled the meeting due to her participation, while Valtonen denied this, stating the meeting was postponed at her initiative due to "scheduling incompatibility".