Tbilisi. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy Transparency International – Georgia, Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, Article 42 of the Constitution, Public Movement Multinational Georgia, Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center, Democratic Initiative of Georgia ,Center for Development and Democracy, Election and Political Technologies, Research Center, Civil Society and Democracy Development Center, Center for the Development of Civil Society and Democracy, Human Rights Center,  Public Advocacy released the statement about Changing the Presidential Election Date. "we deem holding of presidential elections on a Sunday important for maximum realization of voting rights by Georgian citizens residing in Georgia and abroad, we call on the President of Georgia to adopt the most effective, simple and timely resolution to the problem and change the date set for the upcoming presidential elections in his decree and instead, set the election date for Sunday in October", says the statement. For full text Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Internews Georgia monitors have launched monitoring of newscasts of 12 Georgian radio-stations during Presidential pre-election period in Georgia. Both quantitative and qualitative research will be conducted during the period of 15 June to 15 November. For full text Source:media.ge

Tbilisi. Another media monitoring project was presented on April 30. From May 2013, four NGOs will observe the work of up to 40 media outlets during the pre-election period of the presidential elections. The media monitoring project is funded by the EU and the UN Development Program and is implemented by the following NGOs – International Society for the Fair and Elections and Democracy, the Caucasus Research Resources Center, Internews and the Civil Development Institute. The EU Ambassador to Georgia Mr. Philip Dimitrov has attended the meeting. He has emphasized the importance of media monitoring. Interested persons will be able to view the monitoring results at the following web pages: www.mediamonitor.ge and www.facebook.com/mediamonitor. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. "Transparency International – Georgia" has observed the by-elections in the Nadzaladevi, Samtredia and Baghdati Districts through six mobile groups. "In all three districts, overall the elections were held in a quiet environment and with low voter turnout.From opening until the closure of polling stations the organization has drawn up only one complaint... Other types of serious misconduct were not reported, however, due to minor procedural violations our observers have put down scores of comments in the book of register," says the organization's statement. For the full text. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. GYLA is observing the development of by-elections in the 3 election districts. According to the information at the organization's disposal, "the polling process was mainly unfolding in a quiet environment, and the large-scale violations of the Election Code were missing," says the statement, which in addition focuses on procedural violations that the organization's observers have reported about during the voting procedures. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. According to the evaluation of the members of the observer mission of the Center for Development and Democracy (CDD), by-elections were held in a quiet environment in all three districts. As the organization's page in the social network states, regardless of the reported minor violations, the mission has evaluated the process positively."By 20:00 on April 27 the election mission has reported the following procedural violations ... ," says the organization's page. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, Transparency International – Georgia, and ISFED have released the statement on the election of secretaries of the Precinct Election Commissions for the 27 April by-elections. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. NGOs have released a statement on April 8 concerning the amendments to be made to the Election Code. On March 25 the Bureau of the Parliament of Georgia decided to examine the amendments to be made to the "Election Code of Georgia" through an expedited procedure. NGOs call on the Parliament of Georgia "to provide the public with a possibility to hold broad public debate on the amendments to the Election Code of Georgia and not to adopt these amendments through the expedited procedure." For the full text. Source: ISFED page in the social network.

Tbilisi.The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy and the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association have presented the monitoring report of staffing of the election administration. During the period of 2012 parliamentary elections, the organizations have monitored the staffing of district election commissions, observance of the Code of Ethics by the servants of election administration, and the imposition of relevant responsibility on the servants in cases of breach of legislation as part of the joint project. The project aimed at developing recommendations for the election administration to introduce a better practice of staffing of the election commissions and build trust towards them. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association has presented the monitoring report on the pre-election environment, polling day and the post-election period on February 11. The report covers the results of monitoring carried out from 1 August 2012 including 20 October 2012 (GYLA started observing the pre-election processes quite early, since 1 January 2012 and evaluated the pre-election environment in its two interim reports).As already noted, today's report covers the pre-election, polling day and post-election period from 1 August. The report focuses on the procedures of examination of complaints and summarization of results during the pre-election period, polling day and after the elections. The Report. Source: gyla.ge

Adjara. On February8, the Chairman of the Government ArchilKhabadze has met with the CSOs operating in the region in the administrative building of the Government of the Adjara Autonomous Republic.At the meeting, the issues related to staffing and terms of office of the Supreme Election Commission of the Adjara Autonomous Republic were discussed.

Tbilisi. CSOs have addressed the Chairman of the Government of the Adjara Autonomous Republic Archil Khabadze with a letter. The letter, which is signed by the three organizations – GYLA, ISFED and Transparency International – Georgia – concerns the legislative amendment adopted by the Supreme Council of Adjara, which regulates the procedure of staffing the Supreme Election Commission (SEC). These organizations have released the appeal on this issue prior to that as well, and they believe that improvement of the election system, including the reform of the SEC, should be a part of an integrated election reform. "We ask you to use the right granted to you by the Constitution of the Adjara Autonomous Republic and to return the submitted draft law for signature with motivated comments back to the Supreme Council”, – says the appeal. For the full text. Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. NGO "New Generation – New Initiative” has released an open letter concerning the changes to the procedure for staffing the Supreme Election Commission. According to the organization, the Law adopted by the Supreme Council of the Adjara Autonomous Republic on January 29 substantially changes the procedure for staffing the Supreme Election Commission and term of office. "The Law was adopted hastily, without involvement of the election administration and other interested parties including the authoritative local and international observer organizations”, - says the letter. For the full text. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. On January 30, the "International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy”, Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and "Transparency International – Georgia” have held a joint press-conference concerning the amendments to the Law of the Adjara AR on the Elections of the Supreme Council of the Adjara Autonomous Republic in relation to the procedure of staffing the Supreme Election Commission.The organizations have informed the society about their position on legislative amendments adopted by the Supreme Council of Adjara on 29 January 2013, which determines the procedure of staffing the Supreme Election Commission in a new fashion. The organizations believe that changing the procedure of staffing the Supreme Election Commission in such a form, beyond the election reform and out of context, is perceived as an attempt of exercising political influence on the election administration.We would like to remind readers that on 26 December 2012 NGOs have addressed the Supreme Council of the Adjara Autonomous Republic with a statement, urging it to carry out changes to the procedure of staffing the Supreme Election Commission in the context of election reform and through the work format with a non-governmental sector. Source: ISFED page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The "International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy” has released the statement on the change to the procedure of staffing the Supreme Election Commission by the Supreme Council of Adjara. According to the organization’s statement, given amendments were adopted hastily and they are not in coordination with the course of election reform. The organization expresses concern that "changing the procedure of staffing the Supreme Election Commission in such a form is perceived as beyond the election reform and out of context, as an attempt of exercising political influence on the election administration.” The Statement. Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. The Supreme Council of the Adjara Autonomous Republic is debating the draft law on making amendments to the procedure of staffing of the Supreme Election Commission. NGOs release the appeal, which says that after the parliamentary elections they once again proposed the initiative of reforming the election legislation. In the context of the reform, changing the procedure of staffing of the election administration is one of the priority issues. "To make a thorough analysis of this issue and develop the preferred model of election administration, the local and international organizations with required election expertise have already commenced intense work on the subject. The Central Election Commission is involved in the process and the work is being coordinated with the Parliament of Georgia. Accordingly, we believe that the amendment to the procedure of staffing of the Supreme Election Commission must be viewed within the format of this working group. Only the implementation of grounded and fundamental changes will make it possible to overcome the current situation, and besides, reforming the Supreme Election Commission must be a part of the uniform election reform, as under the legislation the Supreme Election Commission is a constituent part of Georgia's election administration. We offer you to join us to discuss the procedure of staffing of the Supreme Election Commission within the format of the NGO working group", – says the appeal. For the full text (Geo) Source: isfed.ge

Tbilisi. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has released the report of the long-term election observation mission on December 21. At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, the observer mission has observed the pre-election developments ahead of the parliamentary elections in Georgia. Observation covered the period from August 22 to October 1.OSCE/ODIHR, Final Report of Long-Term Parliamentary Election (2012) Observation Mission. The Report. Source: media.ge

Adjara. On December24, Transparency International - Georgia has presented the report - An Analysis of Funding of Election Campaign - to the Adjarian population (after Tbilisi) in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center. The study focused on: sources of income of election entities, expenses borne by them, activities of the State Audit Office, and problems associated with the legislation and financial declarations. Discussion has followed after the presentation, at which the students and representatives of local CSOs and media have discussed the Analysis.

Tbilisi. At Tbilisi public school #51 "New Generation - New Initiative" held hands-on sample event "Election For Students" - which is designed according to curriculum for eastern partnership countries. In total 29 students participated within the program. They have accomplished all the tasks responding theoretical part of the program, they actively worked in groups and presented role game "E-Day" !!! After the lessons, participating teachers and students worked out a number of recommendations, which will be taken into consideration while shaping curriculum. The creation of the designated curriculum is going in the framework of EU funded project "Voters' awareness-raising  in Eastern Partnership countries" and is implemented by the Council of Europe. Project aims elections to be foreseen completely in curriculum, which will soon become a mandatory subject of civic education program. The curriculum formation is done by combined experts from Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Central Election Commission, the Ministry of Education, observation and civic education organizations.

Tbilisi. On December 20, "Transparency International – Georgia” has released a new report – "An Analysis of the Election Campaign Finances”, as part of the project "Transparent and Accountable Political Finances in Georgia”. The report analyzes financial declarations of the pre-election campaign of electoral entities, which received the required number of votes in the 2012 parliamentary elections and entered the legislative body. These entities are "BidzinaIvanishvili – Georgian Dream” and the "United National Movement – More Benefits to People”. The Report – "An Analysis of the Election Campaign Finances” (1 August 2012 – 1 October) Source: transparency.ge  

Tbilisi. The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) has founded the European platform of observer organizations together with the NGOs from the EU, Easter Partnership states (EaP), and Russia. The platform aims to support civil observation of elections in the Eastern Partnership states and the Russian Federation and to facilitate the democratic election processes in entire Europe. The platform will develop innovative approaches of fighting the falsification of elections, ensure sharing of experience among member organizations, deliver trainings for the citizens' observer networks in the Eastern Europe and support the informing of the European political structures about the election observation results. The first activities of the platform will focus on supporting the civil observation of elections at the planned 2013 presidential elections in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as the regional elections in the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Source: isfed.ge    

Guria. The elections of the schoolchildren's self-governments in public schools for the education year 2012-2013 are over.Members of the component for the development of youth's civil awareness of the Young Teachers' Union of Ozurgeti have organized pre-election information meetings in order for the schoolchildren of partner schools to hold the elections properly. Partner schools are: in the Ozurgeti Municipality - villages: Baileti, Gurianta, Dvabzu, GaghmaDvabzu, Vakijvari, Nasakirali, Naruja, Laituri; in the Chokhatauri Municipality - villages: Khidistavi, Buknari; in the Lanchkhuti Municipality - villages: Supsa, Lesa; in the Kobuleti Municipality – 13 public schools. The organization's office has hosted the workshop for already registered candidates to membership on the importance of pre-election agendas and rules for their preparation.At the current stage the schoolchildren's self-government structure in the listed schools is already elected and established, and the information seminars are underway concerning the functions of the schoolchildren's self-government.