The National Democratic Institute (NDI), today, deployed an international delegation to observe the October 26, Georgia parliamentary elections.
The delegation includes 22 political leaders and civic leaders from nine countries, as well as election experts and regional specialists. They join six long-term thematic analysts who were deployed to Georgia in July. The delegation is led by the Honorable Tom Malinowski, a former United States congressman and former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Ambassador Per Eklund, a former European Union ambassador to Georgia, and Dr. Tamara Cofman Wittes, NDI President.
“This will mark the first Georgian election since it filed its application for European Union Candidacy,” said Mr. Malinowski. “It gives Georgian citizens a chance decide the direction of their nation, and the Georgian Government and all political stakeholder a chance to show their commitment to democratic values and procedures.”
During their stay in Georgia, they will meet a diverse group of stakeholders including the Central Election Commission, government officials, civil-society leaders, citizen observers and political party leaders. They will monitor the election process, focusing on areas such as the administration of elections, the legal framework and information and media environment.
On the day of the election, the mission will visit the polling stations in nine regions, as well as Tbilisi, to observe the administration, including the opening of the polls and voting, tabulation and transmission of results. The mission will make a preliminary report with its findings and recommends after the election.
“This is an opportunity to reaffirm Georgia as a resilient, forward-looking democracy on the international stage,” said Ambassador Eklund. “It’s incumbent on all political parties to show that Georgia, despite increasing political polarization and its commitment to its transparent and pluralist democratic path, continues to make progress in democracy.”
NDI has supervised approximately 200 elections around the world including in Georgia. NDI’s International Observation Mission is conducted in accordance to Georgia’s laws and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation.
“NDI’s mission of observation is a demonstration that the international community supports credible elections and democratic government in Georgia,” Dr. Wittes said. “These elections are a pivotal moment in the future of democracy in Georgia, and NDI’s observation mission is an honor to stand with Georgians as they make their voices known when determining the future of their country.”
This deployment follows an assessment mission conducted before the February elections.
This mission was made possible by the U.S. Agency for International Development through the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening. International Republic Institute (IRI), a non-profit organization, is also conducting a mission to observe elections in Georgia.
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NDI is a non profit, non partisan, non governmental organization that works with partners around the globe to strengthen and safeguard democratic processes, institutions, norms, and values in order to ensure a better standard of living for all. NDI envisions a society where democracy and freedom are the norm, with dignity for everyone.
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