FM highlights “transparent, competitive” elections as “top priority” for Gov’t ahead of elections

Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Thursday said conducting “transparent and competitive” parliamentary elections in October was “one of the main goals and priorities” for the Government.

Darchiashvili’s comments followed his meeting with Giorgi Kalandarishvili, the Chair of the Central Election Commission, that focused on the administration of the elections scheduled for October 26.

The top Georgian diplomat noted his office and the election administration would continue to “closely coordinate so that Georgian citizens can express their constitutional right in the elections and have no barriers”.

Our diplomats, our ambassadors were fully informed about [election] topics, and I am sure that they will find this information useful in terms of informing our citizens [living abroad], our diaspora”, Darchiashvili said.

The meeting, which also involved heads of diplomatic missions of Georgia, focused on conducting the elections at the country’s foreign representations and procedures for ensuring participation and awareness of citizens abroad.

The officials reviewed advantages of using electronic technology for the first time in the upcoming elections and other innovations and projects pursued by the election administration for conducting elections “according to international and European standards”.