Elina Valtonen fined in Georgia has become a headline that marks growing tension between Finland and Georgia. The Finnish Foreign Minister received a fine of 5,000 lari, roughly equivalent to 1,500 euros, after she voiced support for protesters demonstrating outside the Georgian parliament in Tbilisi.
According to the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the fine was issued for what it described as the “blocking of a public road.” The charge was tied to a video Valtonen recorded near the protest site, where anti-government demonstrations have continued for more than 300 days. Protesters have been demanding that the government restore Georgia’s progress toward European Union membership.
Valtonen was visiting Georgia in her capacity as chair of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which Finland currently leads. In the video, posted on X (formerly Twitter), she stood among demonstrators and said, “Peaceful protestors have gathered to voice their concern over the repressive direction of their country. We are here to support them.”
Following the video, a scheduled meeting between Valtonen and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze was cancelled. Georgian officials claimed her appearance was part of an “illegal campaign event” and accused her of spreading false information. Valtonen rejected these accusations, stating through Helsingin Sanomat that the cancellation was due to scheduling issues initiated by the Finnish side. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs confirmed this account.
On Thursday, Valtonen responded to the controversy on X, addressing Kobakhidze directly. She wrote, “I invite you to come to Finland, meet the free press, and observe any demonstration of your liking.” She added that the Georgian people alone should determine their own future, referencing principles from the 1975 Helsinki Final Act.
The situation has triggered strong political reactions within Georgia. Members of the ruling Georgian Dream party criticized Valtonen’s presence at the protest, calling it interference in domestic matters. Russia’s representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, also labeled her actions “a gross interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.”
Meanwhile, former Georgian President Salomé Zourabichvili, who now leads an opposition movement, defended Valtonen. On X, she described the fine as “a signal to the world” and accused the Georgian government of intimidating diplomats and turning away from European values.
In Finland, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs stated that Valtonen would not pay the fine. The ministry’s legal director, Kaija Suvanto, explained that under international law, foreign ministers enjoy immunity from enforcement measures while performing official duties abroad.
Suvanto noted that the fine is not legally enforceable in Finland. “There is a customary rule that presidents, prime ministers, and foreign ministers are immune from jurisdiction and enforcement when abroad in that capacity,” she told Iltalehti.
Georgia later issued a diplomatic note, known as a demarche, to the OSCE and its member states, referring to Valtonen’s video and Finland’s current OSCE leadership. The OSCE Secretariat confirmed receiving the note but declined to make its contents public, citing confidentiality.
Toni Sandell, Deputy Director of the OSCE Secretariat, said the issue would likely be discussed among member states in Vienna, describing this as standard diplomatic procedure.
During her visit, Valtonen also met Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili and expressed concern about what she called the country’s ongoing “political crisis.” She said that the government must rebuild trust in democratic institutions and that the OSCE is prepared to assist in that process.
Georgia’s protest movement has faced increasing government pressure. Five opposition leaders were recently charged with attempting to overthrow the government, and earlier this year, about 700 civil servants were dismissed for taking part in pro-EU demonstrations.
Georgia was granted EU candidate status in December 2023, but progress toward membership stalled after a disputed parliamentary election in 2024. The ruling Georgian Dream party, often described as pro-Russian, later suspended further steps toward EU integration.
Valtonen’s visit to the region was initially supposed to begin in Azerbaijan, but that leg of her trip was delayed after Azerbaijani officials traveled to Cairo for a conference on the Israel–Hamas conflict.
Throughout her visit, Valtonen reiterated the OSCE’s commitment to democratic values, freedom of speech, and peaceful assembly. She has previously criticized the Georgian government for its handling of protests. In 2024, she condemned the use of force against pro-European demonstrators in Tbilisi.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo defended Valtonen’s actions, saying her visit to the protest was justified and that Georgia’s reaction was “highly unusual.” He added that the matter would be discussed further with Valtonen and Finnish officials.
Although the fine appears to have no legal impact, it has widened the diplomatic divide between the two nations. Observers believe the fallout could influence future relations between Finland, Georgia, and the wider OSCE community.
