Parliament approves changes to election code to criminally prosecute individuals who intimidate voters, violate vote secrecy
President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili has officially declared October 31 as the date of parliamentary elections in Georgia. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Tweet 
Share
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.
These actions will be punishable by a fine, from six months to two years of house arrest or up to three years of imprisonment, based on the ruling Georgian Dream party-proposed changes.
The proposed changes received 81 votes in favour and zero against as the opposition United National Movement and European Georgia did not attend the voting.
Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadzw, who is currently in self-isolation, said in late August that with a series of amendments to the election code the ruling party aimed to hold the 2020 parliamentary elections in compliance with the highest democratic standard.
Two months ahead of the parliamentary elections President Salome Zurabishvili officially named October 31 as Election Day in Georgia.
The recently adopted resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which covers the period between January and December of 2019, has welcomed amendments which ‘reinforce parliamentary oversight in Georgia and political accountability of the executive.’PACE also welcomed “a broad agreement with all stakeholders’ about the adopted fourth wave of judicial reforms ‘with the aim of further strengthening the independence of the judiciary and efficiency of the administration of justice.’
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 EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell has welcomed amendments to the Georgian election code, which were passed in their third and final reading yesterday.
The Georgian parliament is discussing amendments to the country’s electoral code which come following the adoption of the election bill on June 29.
The United National Movement and nine opposition parties that are members of the Strength is in Unity political movement will nominate former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili as their candidate for the prime minister’s post, announced Chairman of the National Movement Grigol Vashadze.
Political party Lelo, created last year by the co-founders of TBC Bank Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, has the highest support of voters among newly formed parties in Georgia, says the election polls conducted by British company Survation, commissioned by Georgian Rustavi 2 TV channel.