OSCE/ODIHR continues election observation in Georgia in ‘limited format’
The OSCE/ODIHR mission in Georgia, led by Ambassador Jillian Stirk, consists of a core team of 13 experts based in Tbilisi and 27 long-term observers. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has decided to limit its missions in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine to long-term observation based on ‘a shortfall in the number of short-term observers provided by OSCE states due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated travel and health restrictions’.
OSCE/ODIHR announced yesterday that the three missions ‘will continue their work and deliver preliminary assessments of the electoral processes after each election day’.
ODIHR election observation missions (EOMs) comprise a core team of experts and long-term observers seconded by OSCE participating States.
However, ‘the extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and existing travel restrictions throughout the OSCE region have negatively affected the ability of the OSCE participating States to second short-term observers’.
This has resulted in a significant shortfall, which makes infeasible the deployment of short-term observers in sufficient numbers for meaningful observation of election day procedures, especially given the logistical difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic”, ODIHR stated.
Accordingly, ODIHR has decided to change the format of the three deployed observation activities from EOMs to Limited Election Observation Missions (LEOMs), with core teams of experts and long-term observers.
ODIHR is grateful to the national and local authorities in the three countries for the support they continue to provide to the ODIHR LEOMs, including the facilitation of entry and operations of the election observers deployed by ODIHR”, it further said.
ODIHR opened an EOM for the October 31 parliamentary elections in Georgia on September 25, following an invitation from the Georgian authorities.
The mission in Georgia, led by Ambassador Jillian Stirk, consists of a core team of 13 experts based in Tbilisi and 27 long-term observers.
In addition, ODIHR planed to request OSCE participating States to send 350 short-term observers, who would arrive several days before election day.
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in its opinion on the draft amendments to the election code of Georgia that "the choice of the electoral system is a sovereign decision of the state, so long as the chosen electoral system is consistent with the state’s obligations under international law. International standards do not prescribe the choice of electoral systems".
Germany will send 37 observers for Georgia’s October 31 parliamentary elections in the coming days, while the rest will visit the country by the end of September, German Ambassador to Georgia Hubert Knirsch said in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on September 17.
OSCE/ODIHR will send 350 short-term and 28 long-term observers for Georgia’s October 31 parliamentary elections, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani stated earlier today.
Georgia has drafted a special safety protocol for foreign observers who will monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections in October, Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze stated earlier today.
Marina Endeladze, head of the isolation department of Tbilisi Hospital of Infections Diseases, stated today that out of the 523 new cases of coronavirus confirmed over the last 24 hours, 194 cases were reported in Tbilisi. She also added that ‘fortunately’ the number of new cases is decreasing in Adjara region.
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) says in its interim report that the pre-election environment in Georgia ‘is marked by political and social tensions, and economic challenges’ amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The European Parliament will not send an election observation mission to Georgia for the October 31 parliamentary elections due to the pandemic.
The European Union has announced today the deployment of a European diplomatic watch, which will send over 70 teams to visit over 1,000 polling stations in Georgia on the election day on October 31. Travelling in specially EU marked cars and wearing EU vests and hats, the diplomatic watch teams will follow all relevant COVID-19 safety precautions.
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), which observed Georgia’s parliamentary elections last year, said in its final report that ‘despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic’ the elections were ‘competitive and administered efficiently’.
The United States Embassy in Georgia welcomes the findings of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) final report on Georgia’s parliamentary elections. The US Embassy says the report ‘underscores the continued need for important reforms, particularly in the areas of campaign finance, electoral administration compositions, and dispute resolution’.