US says NDI, IRI help strengthen Georgian democracy
Bidzina Ivanishvili said that NDI and IRI in Georgia are facing devaluation and he does not trust studies ordered by them. Photo: Embassy of Georgia to US.
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US says National Democratic Institute (NDI), the International Republican Institute (IRI), other non-partisan organisations help strengthen Georgian democracy.
“Our partners do important work. NDI, IRI and other independent, non-partisan organisations help strengthen Georgia’s democracy, writes USAID on its official Twitter page.
Our partners do important work. @NDI @IRIglobal and other independent, non-partisan organizations help strengthen Georgia's #democracy. @usingeo @USAIDDRG @USAIDEurope https://t.co/CSVWWruYEC
— USAID Georgia (@USAIDGeorgia) December 5, 2019
The statement was further shared by the US Embassy in Georgia, adding, that Embassy is proud of the important work of its partners.
Proud of the important work our partners @NDI, @IRIglobal, and other independent, non-partisan organizations do to help #Georgia strengthen its democracy! https://t.co/bhgbzngTVR
— U.S. Embassy Tbilisi (@usingeo) December 5, 2019
A few days ago, Georgian Dream leader Bidzina Ivanishvili said in an interview that US-based institutions, NDI and IRI in Georgia are facing devaluation and he does not trust studies ordered by them.
Later other NGOs also responded to Ivanishvili’s statement, including Open Society Georgia.
Keti Khutsishvili, Executive Director of the Open Society Georgia said that the government starts harassing NGOs when starts to move towards autocracy.
The need for democratic institutions was also discussed by the US Ambassador to Georgia, Elizabeth Rood, who mentioned that Georgia is democratic country and the US has invested a lot in the development of its democracy.
Rood added, that any political change should be in agreement with Parliament and democratic institutions.
An International Republican Institute (IRI) poll released late yesterday reads that with the 2020 parliamentary elections less than a year away, a clear front-runner has yet to emerge."Because 61 percent of voters are focused on economic policies in the run-up to the election and a third are undecided on their first choice, political parties that develop coherent and appealing economic platforms will be best positioned to form a parliamentary majority,” the polls say.
Surveys released today by the US National Democratic Institute (NDI) reads that more Georgians support the country’s membership into NATO and the EU, with NATO at 78%, its highest approval since 2013, and the EU at 83%.
A recently released IRI polls read that 26 per cent of those surveyed would vote for the Georgian Dream ruling party (GD) and 22 per cent for the United National Movement (UNM) opposition if the elections were held tomorrow. Leader of the European Georgia opposition David Bakradze and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze from GD were ranked the most liked politicians.
President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili has granted honorable Georgian citizenship to the President of the US National Democratic Institute (NDI) Kenneth Wollack during his visit in Washington today.
US Congressman Eliot Engel, who is also the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, issued a statement in support of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI).
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) has released the results of recently conducted polls earlier today, saying that people’s trust in state institutions and leaders has declined, and the number of Georgians who evaluate the current government’s performance as ‘bad’ has increased from 49 per cent in March 2018 to 64 per cent today.
The ruling Georgian Dream party says that in the coming days they will have ‘deep discussions’ with NDI Georgia Director Laura Thornton as ‘there are questions regarding their polls which remain unanswered.’
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has met with NDI President Derek Mitchell in Tbilisi earlier today to discuss the importance of coordinated cooperation in the election year, the government of Georgia press office reports.
NDI Georgia will have a new head as the term of Laura Thornton, who took the post in 2014, is expiring. It has not been announced so far who will replace Thornton.
Recently published NDI polls say that ‘despite disinformation aimed at undermining support for transatlantic alliances, Georgians remain steadfast in their support’ for the country’s EU and NATO goals, with support for membership at 76 and 69 percent, respectively. According to the polls Russia is among the top countries engaged in spreading false information in Georgia.
The head and the founder of the Georgian Dream ruling party Bidzina Ivanishvili has held an online meeting with NDI President Derek Mitchell and other senior officials of the American non-profit organisation to discuss the pre-election environment in Georgia ahead of the October parliamentary elections.
The election polls conducted by British company Survation,commissioned by Georgian Rustavi 2 TV channel, says that the Ruling Georgian Dream party will receive 52 per cent of votes in the October parliamentary elections.
Foundations for democratic elections are in place in Georgia for the upcoming voting for the parliament in October, however challenges in public confidence in the process remain, a pre-election environment report from the National Democratic Institute non-governmental organisation says.
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) has released recommendations ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia. The recommendations are based on an analysis of the work of the electoral administration, the campaign environment, gender and inclusion, media and disinformation and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.