Independent Observers Raise Serious Concerns Over October 26 Parliamentary Elections in Georgia
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, November 21, 2024
On November 16, three prominent Georgian monitoring organizations: the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), My Vote, and the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA) released a joint assessment of the October 26 parliamentary elections. The report casts a shadow over the credibility of the election, citing large-scale, systemic violations that question the legitimacy of the process.
According to the groups, the elections were marred by coordinated efforts to manipulate the vote in favor of the ruling Georgian Dream party, calling into question the integrity of the results. With more than 3,500 observers deployed across the country, the organizations identified widespread irregularities, ranging from voter intimidation to obstructed observation efforts.
The observers pointed to organized efforts to control voters through intimidation and bribery. Investigations revealed that the Georgian Dream party used "call centers" to mobilize voters on election day, leveraging personal data to coerce participation. Despite calls for action, law enforcement agencies failed to investigate reports of voter data collection and other irregularities.
The monitoring organizations were systematically hindered from performing their duties. Observers were expelled from polling stations and intimidated, with minimal response from authorities. This lack of accountability allowed election violations to go unchallenged.
The report highlights disturbing instances of voting secrecy violations, including the use of cameras at polling stations and voters taking photos of their ballots to prove their vote. These actions were seen as part of a broader effort to intimidate voters and control the election outcome.
Observers documented irregularities in the marking process, including instances of multiple voting, suggesting deliberate manipulation of the process to inflate support for the ruling party.
The collection of voter data and identity cards before the election, along with efforts to pressure vulnerable voters, laid the groundwork for a compromised election day. These actions severely restricted voters' freedom of choice.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) played a pivotal role in managing election processes, with several changes to regulations before the election designed to facilitate voter manipulation. The CEC's role in facilitating these fraudulent practices, including the installation of surveillance cameras in problematic locations and ignoring proper procedures, further undermined transparency.
The election complaint process, which was supposed to address violations, was criticized for failing to meet international standards. District election commissions and courts routinely dismissed complaints, even in cases where violations were clearly evident. In some instances, appeals courts overturned decisions that had been made in favor of correcting the irregularities.
All three monitoring missions concluded that the election results could not be considered a legitimate reflection of Georgian voters' will. They argued that the scale and consistency of the violations point to a system rigged by the ruling party, with direct involvement from state institutions such as the CEC, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the State Security Service. The report calls for significant reforms to restore trust in Georgia's electoral system and ensure future elections are free, fair, and transparent.
