Georgian Election Commission Chair, OSCE/ODIHR mission head discuss election preparations

Giorgi Kalandarishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Central Election Commission, and Representatives of the monitoring mission of the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights on Thursday discussed work in the run-up to the parliamentary elections next month, and implemented and planned activities of the election administration, the body said.

The Chair highlighted preparations for the elections, challenges with introduction of electronic voting technology, public information campaigns fir informing voters, registration of observer organisations and “disinformation” during the campaign season, the body added.

The Chair said the administration had worked to provide sides involved in the elections with information about activities the administration has been carrying out in accordance with international and European standards before election.

We discussed all important topics related to election administration. I think the involvement of international observation missions and the sharing of their recommendations and assessments, helps to improve the election environment”, Kalandarishvili noted.

On his part, Eoghan Murphy, the head of the observer mission, shared detailed information about the observers who will monitor the October elections throughout the country with the head of the CEC.

Murphy, who leads the OSCE/ODIHR observer mission launched on Thursday for the elections, also reviewed reports of the mission, which the organisation will publish during the campaign season and following the vote.