Georgia’s foreign office invites OSCE/ODIHR observers for October general elections
The letter also emphasised Tbilisi’s readiness to contribute to the “effective performance of their functions by the observers”. Photo: Matteo Mecacci/Twitter
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The Georgian Foreign Ministry on Monday addressed Matteo Mecacci, the Director of the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, with an invitation to send observers for the general elections in the country, set for October.
The Ministry said on Wednesday the goal of the Georgian Government was to conduct “transparent, free and fair elections, in accordance with international standards and best European democratic practices”.
The letter also emphasised Tbilisi’s readiness to contribute to the “effective performance of their functions by the observers”.
February had been defined as the timeframe for inviting the observers in the Government plan for the implementation of the European Union conditions for opening accession talks with Tbilisi.
The plan was unveiled in December, after the country obtained the bloc’s membership candidate status earlier the same month.
Georgia’s Central Election Commission on Wednesday set October 26 as the date for this year’s parliamentary elections and outlined mandatory registration procedures for participating parties.
Giorgi Kalandarishvili, the Chair of the Central Election Commission, on Monday held an introductory meeting with Robin Dunnigan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, discussing the process of preparations for the 2024 parliamentary elections, the CEC said.
The Government of Georgia on Monday revealed an action plan designed to fulfil the conditions outlined by the European Commission in November, a prerequisite for initiating accession talks with the European Union.
Charles Michel, the European Council President, on Thursday said the Council granted Georgia the European Union membership candidate status.
Ilia Darchiashvili, the Georgian Foreign Minister, on Wednesday pledged his Government's commitment to conducting “transparent and competitive” general elections this fall after sending an official invitation to observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.
The Georgian Central Election Commission on Thursday said it welcomed the involvement of international observer organisations in the general elections set for October in the country.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said votes of citizens in the general elections in October “need to be protected” from the opposition United National Movement party and its “satellite” domestic non-governmental organisations.
Archil Talakvadze, the Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker, on Monday said changes to the domestic election code would give the country the “same electoral administration” as the ones found in European countries.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday said new electoral legislation, electronic voting and “extensive monitoring” would ensure holding the upcoming parliamentary elections in “a free and fair environment”.
The ongoing work for public information campaigns for this year's parliamentary elections in Georgia was discussed in a meeting between Giorgi Kalandarishvili, the Chair of the Central Election Commission, and representatives of international organisations and diplomatic missions in the country.
Peter Fischer, the German Ambassador to Georgia, on Friday said he hoped and believed Georgia would hold free, fair and competitive parliamentary elections in 2024.
Paweł Herczyński, the Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia, said the bloc was “very pleased” that the Georgian Government had invited the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to observe the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country.