Georgian Public Defender discusses October election preparations with OSCE/ ODIHR

Preparations for the parliamentary elections in Georgia in October and a “need of assessment of the electoral environment” were discussed on Thursday between the Georgian Public Defender Levan Ioseliani and Megan Fitzgerald, the Head of the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

The meeting also involved Kseniya Dashutina, the Advisor to the Election Department and Local Coordinator, Vladimir Misev, the Senior Advisor on New Voting Technologies and Tim Knoblau, the Head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Programme and Administration.

The Public Defender’s Office said Ioseliani emphasised the importance of cooperation with the civil sector for “avoiding violations of rights being left without response”.

He also discussed the pre-election period and working practices on election day based on the mandate of the Office. 

The domestic legal framework and use of new electronic technology that will be used for the first time in Georgia in the upcoming elections were also reviewed.

The Public Defender extended his gratitude to the visiting officials for their “support over the years”, as well as opinions and conclusions of the OSCE/ODIHR that have been produced following requests by the Public Defender’s Office.