International Election Observation Mission
Tbilisi. OSCE/ODIHR and European Parliament releases the statement on the second round of the Georgian Local Government Election.
“The second round of the local elections was generally well administered but continued polarization coupled with escalation of negative rhetoric adversely affected the process. The campaign was competitive and had a prominent national focus, overshadowing local issues. Candidates were generally able to campaign freely, but allegations of intimidation and pressure on voters persisted. Sharp imbalances in resources, and an undue advantage of incumbency further benefited the ruling party and tilted the playing field.
Election day was generally calm and well administered, with a few instances of confrontation and mutual provocations between party supporters outside polling stations.
Despite recent legislative amendments banning gatherings within 100 meters of a polling station, IEOM observers noted the presence, at times intimidating, of groups of individuals in the immediate surroundings of 29 per cent of the polling stations visited”.
Source: www.osce.org
