Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili emphasized the ongoing occupation of Georgian territories by Russia and the resulting human rights violations during her address at the Council of Europe (CoE) ministerial meeting in Luxembourg.

Following the session, Botchorishvili described the meeting as “an excellent opportunity to discuss the challenges facing our country,” as well as broader developments across the CoE region. She underlined the need to keep the issue of Russian occupation high on the international agenda and stressed the importance of utilizing international mechanisms, including decisions by the European Court of Human Rights, in seeking a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Georgia conflict.

In her remarks, the Minister also addressed internal developments in Georgia, criticizing what she described as double standards in the way international actors interpret the country’s current events.

“Georgia has made genuinely exceptional progress in reforms, justice, and human rights protection over the past decade—this is backed by every study, ranking, and international court decision. These achievements should not be overshadowed by misleading narratives,” Botchorishvili said.

She further asserted that, like any sovereign state, Georgia acts in accordance with its national interests. “We will stand guard over our country’s interests. Unfortunately, when we speak about Georgia’s sovereignty and national priorities, some actors continue to apply double standards and spread opinions that work against our country,” she added.