US Embassy welcomes ‘competitive’ Georgian elections, laments ‘deficiencies’
US Ambassador Kelly Degnan (pictured right) observed the elections in Marneuli and worked with non-governmental organisations involved in monitoring the vote. Photo via US Embassy in Georgia.
Tweet 
Share
The United States Embassy in Georgia has welcomed 'competitive' parliamentary elections in the country and applauded citizens for their turnout against the backdrop of the pandemic, while also pointing out 'deficiencies' in the process that require resolution by the authorities.
The diplomatic representation released its reaction to the October 31 vote on Sunday, sharing OSCE/ODIHR monitors' initial assessment of the process that said the elections were "competitive and, [in which] overall, fundamental freedoms were respected" in the process that saw voter turnout of over 56 percent in the early data.
However the embassy's reaction also noted "pervasive allegations of pressure on voters and blurring of the line between the ruling party and the state" that "reduced public confidence in some aspects of the process."
U.S. Embassy Statement on Georgia’s Parliamentary Electionshttps://t.co/scsJ81Td1H
— U.S. Embassy Tbilisi (@usingeo) November 1, 2020
The flaws were "not sufficient to invalidate the results" of the voting but were "unacceptable", the release pointed out.
Voters' and parties' use of "existing legal procedures" for filing formal complaints to relevant bodies was also welcomed by the diplomatic office, which called on authorities to resolve "credible complaints in a fair, transparent, and timely manner".
The embassy highlighted Georgian citizens' "dedication to democracy even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic" in their poise to cast choices at polling stations, and also said electoral reforms adopted ahead of the elections had "addressed some of the flaws identified with previous elections".
Georgia has held peaceful, just, safe and democratic elections, says Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili.
“Georgia’s parliamentary elections were competitive and, overall, fundamental freedoms were respected”, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in its preliminary statement today.
Opposition parties which surpassed the one percent election threshold in Saturday’s parliamentary elections in Georgia or nearly did so say they will not take up their mandates in parliament and instead will take to the streets and call for repeat elections. Leaders of the United National Movement, European Georgia, Lelo for Georgia, Strategy Aghmashenebeli and the United Georgia-Democratic Movement opposition parties have accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of vote buying and threatening voters.
The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) NGO has released the results of parallel vote tabulation (PVT) which says that the ruling Georgian Dream party received 45.8% of the vote, while the United Opposition bloc (with the United National Movement) received 26.4% of the vote.
The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry has reacted to the October 31 parliamentary elections in Georgia by welcoming the reforms that enabled the country to conduct the vote 'smoothly' and acknowledging international observers' conclusions on competitive process, but also pointing out 'irregularities and incidents'.
Georgia's foreign minister David Zalkaliani expressed gratitude to the country's international partners for sending their observers for the parliamentary elections held on Saturday and pointed out their support for "further consolidation of democracy in Georgia".
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia wrote on his Facebook today that he has gone into self-isolation after one of his aides tested positive for coronavirus. PM Gakharia, who continues to work remotely, thanked international observers ‘for their commitment to Georgia’s democracy’ amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The European Georgia opposition party, which has received five mandates in the 150-member parliament, has refused to have its MPs take up their mandates in parliament and participate in the election run-off on November 21 in several majoritarian constituencies.
Former Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen has written on his Facebook page in Georgian that Saturday's parliamentary elections in Georgia were ‘competitive and free’ and that the elections once again showed the commitment of the Georgian people to Euro-Atlantic integration.
All eight opposition parties who crossed the one per cent election threshold in the October 31 parliament elections have signed an agreement earlier today not to take up their mandates in parliament. 12 other opposition parties, who were unable to enter the legislative body, also signed the agreement and stated that the elections ‘were not legitimate as they were fabricated.’ All 20 signatory parties have stated that they will continue to fight against the government.
Tbilisi City Court has set bail at 70,000 GEL for United National Movement MP Nika Melia. He has also been prohibited from leaving Georgia without informing the prosecution in advance and receiving its consent.