Georgian Dream proposes changes to election code to criminally prosecute individuals who intimidate voters, violate vote secrecy
Parliamentary elections will be held on October 31 in Georgia. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Coercion and intimidation of voters or the violation of vote secrecy will become criminally liable in Georgia as part of a series of amendments to the election code proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Violation of vote secrecy or coercion of a voter will result in a fine or house arrest for a period from six months to two years or imprisonment for about three years. The amendments have been drafted and will be submitted to the parliament of Georgia today", said Parliament Chairman of the Parliament Archil Talakvadze.
He said that the amendments will further tighten the responsibility for offenders in the election process and increase the degree of protection of voters, their free choice and secrecy of their choice.
Our goal is to hold the 2020 parliamentary elections in compliance with the highest democratic standard. We respect and trust the free choice of our society, we believe in our supporters and we believe that the Georgian Dream will win in fair elections", Talakvadze said.
Earlier today, Talakvadze announced that the Georgian government is ready to charter flights to bring in international observers for the upcoming parliamentary elections that will be held on October 31.
The ruling Georgian Dream party and the united opposition have reached an agreement on holding the upcoming parliamentary elections this October with 120 seats in the legislative body to be distributed via a proportional vote and the remaining 30 via the majoritarian system.
The Georgian government is ready to charter flights to bring in international observers for the upcoming parliamentary elections that will be held on October 31, says the Chairman of the Parliament, Archil Talakvadze.
Opposition parties in Georgia demand the Alliance of Patriots of Georgia be prohibited from running in the October parliamentary elections following the release of an investigation of the Dossier Center, which tracks the criminal activities associated with the Kremlin.
Twenty-three opposition parties in Georgia have signed a memorandum to ensure the integrity of the upcoming October elections.
One of the leaders of the opposition European Georgia party and a former member of the United National Movement (UNM) party Giga Bokeria predicts voters will punish the UNM this October when the country goes to the polls in parliamentary elections, as 'our citizens do not make mistakes when assessing who is politically immature and irresponsible.’
EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell says that as an international observer it is more important for him to see how a party will win at the 2020 parliamentary elections of Georgia rather than who wins.
President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili has named October 31 as the date of parliamentary elections and elections of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara within Georgia. Zurabishvili said that 30 years ago, on October 28, 1990 Georgia held democratic elections and 'we should continue this tradition and represent our country to the world as an extremely democratic country'.
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan says that Georgia should expect Russian interference in the upcoming parliamentary elections. She said that one of the ways Russia may interfere in the parliamentary elections is to spread disinformation campaigns.
Starting today, the 59 political parties that have registered with the Central Election Commission (CEC) to run in the 2020 Georgian parliamentary elections can begin their election campaigns.
Coercion and intimidation of voters or the violation of vote secrecy will become criminally liable in Georgia as part of a series of amendments to the election code approved by the Parliament of Georgia in its third and final hearing today.