NGO GYLA counts 11 cases of threats, violent actions in 2nd interim report in run up to October 31 elections
The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association has presented its second interim report of October 31 parliamentary elections. Photo: GYLA.
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The Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) has presented its second interim report of October 31 parliamentary elections, counting 11 cases of threats and violent actions in September.
The GYLA recorded cases of threats and attacks on opposition party activists from the United National Movement, Lelo, Strategy Aghmashenebeli and the Labour Party.
All cases had elements of criminal offences,” said GYLA.
Overall, GYLA observers identified the following cases:
- Ignoring the requirement to separate the state and political parties - one case
- Vote-buying - one case
- Threats and violent actions - 11 cases
- Hampering pre-election campaigning - 3 cases
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GYLA said that the use of state projects for the interest of the ruling party remains challenging.
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.
Twenty-seven per cent of Georgian respondents of the Public Attitudes in Georgia survey conducted by the National Democratic Institute say that the biggest issue facing the education system in Georgia today are difficulties associated with online classes amid the coronavirus pandemic.
A National Democratic Institute survey predicts 88 per cent of eligible voters will vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections on October 31, noting 59 per cent have not decided yet who they will vote for.
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 Election Administration of Georgia has adopted a resolution laying out the sanitary guidelines to be observed when the country will go to the polls in parliamentary elections on October 31. People entering the election centre must first sanitise their hands, and will be obliged to wear face masks. Members of the election commission and observers must undergo thermal screening. However, this rule will not apply to voters.
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.