Central Election Commission welcomes involvement of int’l observer organisations in October elections
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. Photo: CEC
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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.
The body said it was “actively” preparing for the parliamentary elections, which will be held using electronic voting for the first time in the country, in accordance with international and European standards.
In order to ensure the quality of the integrity and transparency of the election process, the involvement of observation missions in the mentioned process has an important role and at the same time it is a kind of preventive mechanism”, the statement said.
The election administration said it welcomed the arrival of “reputable, neutral and objective” observers and declared its “full readiness to work closely” with them in the format of “constructive cooperation” and provide missions with “operational, verified and complete” information.
Ilia Darchiashvili, the Georgian Foreign Minister, on Wednesday pledged his Government's commitment to conducting “transparent and competitive” general elections 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 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.
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.
Giorgi Kalandarishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Central Election Commission, and his Deputy Giorgi Sharabidze on Tuesday discussed preparations for the upcoming general elections in the country with a delegation of the United States Agency for International Development.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Saturday said the “main principle” for his Government was to ensure “legally sound” electoral legislation in alignment with international practice.
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”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday reviewed the pre-election environment in the country with the International Pre-election Assessment Mission of the United States-based National Democratic Institute.
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.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Tuesday vetoed amendments to the election code, approved by the Parliament, that stipulated transfer of the power to elect the Chair and members of the Central Election Commission to the President if the legislative body failed to elect them in two attempts.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday claimed President Salome Zourabichvili was engaged in a “campaign” aimed at “discrediting” the country’s election administration, after Zourabichvili vetoed amendments to regulations on elections of the Chair and members of the Central Election Commission.