May 22, 2008
Georgia Update
A Service of the Government of Georgia

International Election Monitors Hail Significant Improvements in Georgia’s Electoral Process, Declare Vote Free & Fair

Serious irregularities reported in only 13 of 3,558 electoral precincts;

“If ever there was a transparent election, it was this one” says Swedish monitor

I. INTRODUCTION

International observers have said that the May 21 elections for the Georgian Parliament occurred under generally calm and democratic conditions, with relatively few complaints of irregularities.

“The electoral laws were fulfilled to the last letter,” said the chair of Sweden’s delegation to the OSCE. “The Georgian authorities have demonstrated a remarkable commitment to a rule-based conduct of the elections,” noted the Estonian observer mission. The assessments of several international election monitors are included in Section II below.

The head of a respected Georgian NGO, meanwhile, also noted the significant improvements made in the electoral process since January’s presidential vote. “In most of the polling stations, the electoral commissions managed to conduct the process within the framework of the law,” said Koki Ionatamishvili, head of New Generation-New Initiative. “They reacted appropriately to many of our complaints.”

Meanwhile, as of 03:30 Tbilisi time, the Government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for Free and Fair Elections (IATF) reported serious irregularities in just 13 out of 3,558 electoral precincts, or less than 0.4% of the total.
 

II. STATEMENTS BY INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVERS

“I observed 10 precincts in Rustavi and several more in Tbilisi. The electoral laws were fulfilled to the last letter. Even though we expect so much more from a Georgian election than we do from our own elections, everything went smoothly. There was 100 percent transparency—if ever there was a transparent election, it was this one. I was also impressed by how well trained the people who worked in the election commissions were. The improvement has been very significant since January.”

Walburga Habsburg-Douglas, Chair of Sweden’s Delegation to the OSCE

“I observed many election precincts and witnessed no serious violations. The voting procedures were held calmly in every precinct I visited. I want to declare that the election process is well organized. At the same time, I want to call on every political party to stay calm. The vote tabulation process will be crucial.”

Marie Anne Isler Béguin, Member of the European Parliament
Head of the European Parliament Observer Mission for the Parliamentary Elections

“The elections represented a clear improvement compared to the Presidential elections of January 2008. The Georgian authorities have demonstrated a remarkable commitment to a rule-based conduct of the elections. Despite a very short preparation time, they have succeeded in holding significantly well-run elections.

“Mr. Harry Lahtein, chargé d'affaires of the Republic of Estonia, observed that they "most certainly meet all the basic requirements of free and fair elections". He concluded that many EU Member States "would be pleased to see their elections carried out with
so few irregularities.”

Observer Delegation of the Embassy of Estonia

“The Secretary General of NATO declared after the Bucharest summit that NATO would observe the May 21 parliamentary elections and that Georgia would have a real chance to be granted MAP if the elections were held in a peaceful and democratic manner.

Let me declare that the voting process has been carried out peacefully.

Matyas Eorsi, Head of Delegation for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

“The parliamentary elections are well organized and taking place in peaceful conditions. No violations have been detected. Let me congratulate the Georgian people for one more step toward democracy.”
Slawomir Nitras, Member of the Polish Parliament

“I observed 9 precincts and saw no problems either with voters, or with the opposition. The voting process is very calm.
Georgia has made a very important step forward in its democratic progress.”

Henrikas Zukauskas, Member of the Lithuanian Parliament

“The parliamentary elections have been conducted democratically in Georgia.
No serious violations were observed.

Vytautas Bogusis, Member of the Lithuanian Parliament

“I want to underline that the parliamentary elections were held democratically in Georgia. The situation is calm in every precinct and the voting process has gone serenely. Let me congratulate the Georgian people on the very well organized elections.”

Ivan Stafenec, Member of the Slovenian Parliament

“The parliamentary elections were conducted democratically.
I observed the presidential elections in Georgia as well, and I must declare that
the current parliamentary elections are better.”

Sergey Podgorniy, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament