US Embassy welcomes OSCE/ODIHR final report on Georgian parliamentary elections
OSCE/ODIHR said in its final report that ‘despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic’ the elections were ‘competitive and administered efficiently’. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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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 stated yesterday that the report ‘underscores the continued need for important reforms, particularly in the areas of campaign finance, electoral administration compositions, and dispute resolution’.
United States Embassy Statement on the Release of the OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission Final Report: https://t.co/4znIVoNzil pic.twitter.com/r6QyygNheJ
— U.S. Embassy Tbilisi (@usingeo) March 6, 2021
Sharing 'these concerns' the US Embassy 'urges parliament to continue a deliberative and inclusive reform process that addresses these longstanding ODIHR recommendations'.
These important reforms will strengthen political pluralism and democracy, and help Georgia achieve its goals for increased Euro-Atlantic integration", the US Embassy said.
It further noted that 'civil society and the opposition, including opposition parties currently outside of parliament, have important perspectives that must be included'.
We call on all stakeholders to engage in good faith in the reform process, both to strengthen this Parliament and to ensure future elections are more free and fair", the statement reads.
ODIHR, which observed Georgia’s parliamentary elections last year, offers a number of recommendations to improve the conduct of elections and increase the transparency of and public confidence in the electoral process.
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 Central Election Commission convened a session earlier today to summarise the final results of Georgia’s parliamentary elections. Having summed up the election results at today’s session, the CEC will now send the document to the parliament of Georgia, which will hold the first session of the tenth convocation within ten days.
“Georgia’s parliamentary elections were competitive and, overall, fundamental freedoms were respected”, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in its preliminary statement today.
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’.
The International Republican Institute (IRI), which conducted a Technical Election Assessment Mission (TEAM) during Georgia’s 2020 national parliamentary elections last year, has published its final report today.
The International Republican Institute (IRI) has released the results of a nationwide poll which revealed that 75 per cent of Georgians are very likely to vote in the upcoming municipal elections. 25 per cent of the voters who are not likely to participate in the local elections say that they ‘do not have confidence in the electoral process.’