Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen was fined by Georgian authorities after showing support for demonstrators outside the Georgian parliament during an ongoing protest in Tbilisi.
The incident has since escalated into a diplomatic dispute between Finland and Georgia, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.
The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs announced a fine of 5,000 lari, equal to roughly €1,500, for what it called the “blocking of a public road.” The charge was linked to a video Valtonen filmed outside the parliament on Tuesday, where peaceful anti-government protests have continued for over 300 days.
The protests are focused on the government’s decision to suspend Georgia’s path toward European Union membership.
Valtonen was in Georgia as part of her duties as chair of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which Finland leads this year. The video message, shared on X (formerly Twitter), showed her standing near demonstrators and stating, “Peaceful protestors have gathered... to voice their concern over the repressive direction of their country … we are here to support them.”
Following the video’s publication, a planned meeting between Valtonen and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze was cancelled. Georgian officials claimed the decision was a response to Valtonen’s participation in what they described as an “illegal campaign event” and “spreading of false information.”
Valtonen rejected the accusations. She told Helsingin Sanomat that the meeting was cancelled on Finland’s initiative due to schedule conflicts. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs confirmed this, stating the cancellation took place on Tuesday evening.
On Thursday, Valtonen responded publicly to the accusations, again using X. In a message directed at Kobakhidze, 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 decide their future, citing principles from the 1975 Helsinki Final Act.
The incident has prompted strong reactions in Georgia. Several politicians from the ruling Georgian Dream party criticised Valtonen’s appearance at the protest, accusing her of interfering in the country’s internal affairs. Russia’s permanent representative to international organisations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, called Valtonen’s actions “a gross interference in internal affairs of a sovereign state.”
Former Georgian President Salomé Zourabichvili, now a leading opposition figure, supported Valtonen and condemned the government’s response. Posting on X, she referred to the fine as “a signal to the world,” accusing the ruling party of intimidating diplomats, silencing citizens, and turning away from European values.
In Finland, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs issued a clear statement that Valtonen would not pay the fine. The ministry’s legal director Kaija Suvanto explained that under customary international law, foreign ministers, along with heads of state and government, enjoy immunity from enforcement measures while abroad.
Suvanto said the fine is not 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 role,” she told Iltalehti. She confirmed that there is no requirement under Finnish or international law for Valtonen to pay the fine.
The Georgian government has also issued a diplomatic note, known as a demarche, to the OSCE and its member states. The note refers to Valtonen’s visit, her video message, and Finland’s role as the current OSCE chair. The OSCE Secretariat confirmed receipt but declined to release the document, citing its classified nature.
Toni Sandell, Deputy Director of the OSCE Secretariat, said the note will likely lead to discussions among participating states in Vienna, where the organisation is headquartered. He described this process as standard practice.
Valtonen, who also held talks with Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili during her visit, raised concerns about what she called Georgia’s “political crisis.” In a post on X, she wrote that the government must restore trust in democratic institutions and that the OSCE is prepared to assist.
The protest movement in Georgia has faced increasing pressure. Last week, five opposition leaders were charged with attempting to overthrow the government. Earlier this year, the government dismissed 700 civil servants for attending pro-EU demonstrations.
Georgia was granted EU candidate status in December 2023, but the accession process stalled after a controversial parliamentary election in autumn 2024. The ruling Georgian Dream party, which is often described as pro-Russian, suspended further steps toward EU integration.
Valtonen had initially planned to start her South Caucasus tour in Azerbaijan, but that leg was delayed after Azerbaijani leaders travelled to Cairo for a conference on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
During her time in Georgia, Valtonen reiterated the OSCE’s support for democratic principles, including freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly. She has been a vocal critic of the Georgian government’s actions against protestors in the past. In 2024, she condemned violence used against pro-European demonstrators in Tbilisi.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo defended Valtonen’s actions, telling Helsingin Sanomat that the foreign minister’s visit to the demonstration was justified. He described Georgia’s response as “highly unusual” and said he would discuss the matter further with Valtonen.
Georgia’s fine against Valtonen appears to have no legal consequences for the minister, but the political and diplomatic fallout is likely to continue.
