OSCE/ODIHR’s Final Assessment of Georgia‘s Elections
The OSCE/ODIHR, an international organization that monitors elections, has given a very negative assessment of Georgia’s October 26 elections. In a joint statement, four opposition parties say this evaluation is the most critical ever made by the organization in Georgia.
The OSCE/ODIHR concluded that the elections did not meet basic democratic standards and that citizens’ constitutional right to vote was not respected. The main reasons for this were voter intimidation, media bias, unequal conditions, and violations of ballot secrecy.
According to the opposition parties, the government has been deceiving voters by suggesting that the OSCE/ODIHR’s conclusion would legitimize their power. However, the OSCE/ODIHR’s assessment actually confirms the illegitimacy of the election results and provides grounds for holding new elections.
The organization stated that its mandate is to assess the electoral process, not to determine the legitimacy of elections. The fact that it highlighted this issue in its conclusion indicates a significant problem with the election’s legitimacy.
The OSCE/ODIHR also noted several serious violations during the electoral process, including:
* Restrictions on fundamental freedoms and civil society
* Politicization of institutions involved in the electoral process
* Voter pressure and intimidation
* Massive violations of ballot secrecy
* Inadequate handling of complaints
* Violent suppression of protests
* Polarization and instrumentalization of the media
The opposition parties believe that the OSCE/ODIHR’s final assessment provides a legal and logical basis for fulfilling the demands of the public and holding new elections.
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