Leading local NGO says voting environment is calm

One of the country’s leading non-governmental organisations monitoring the Second Round of Elections says the electoral process is smooth and peaceful today.

Georgia’s Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) released a statement at 10am this morning – two hours after polling stations opened to voters – about the state of the electoral environment.

The NGO said everything was operating ""mainly in a peaceful environment”.

The NGO’s comments were based on information provided by its observers in capital Tbilisi and in the regions for the second round of Elections. 

GYLA said the polling stations were ready to welcome voters at 8am and were well prepared with all necessary electoral materials. 

In the first few hours of voting the NGO team observed several minor procedural problems but these would not affect the outcome of the election.

Some of the problems were fixed after the involvement of GYLA observers, or after the adequate reaction of election commissions, the NGO said in its statement. 

Polling booths will remain open until 8pm this evening.