ISFED believes that the existing legislation does not allow such changes, which calls legitimacy of changing the polling procedures by the CEC decree and bypassing the Election Code into question. Amending procedures provided in the Election Code by the CEC degree sets a negative precedent and may create the risk of disregarding electoral legislation in the future.

ISFED monitored the pre-election period, Election Day, the runoffs and the post-election period of the local self-government elections nationwide with a large-scale monitoring mission and 1,299 accredited observers.

On March 19, the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) presented the final report of monitoring of the 2017 local self-government elections. The report covers the ISFED’s key findings and trends of the pre-election, Election Day and post-election periods. The report also assesses the work of election administration and other key actors of the electoral process. Besides, ISFED presented the recommendations on the improvement of electoral system, legal framework and overall election environment.

Events after the vote count at polling station #59 (Nasakirali settlement) of Ozurgeti #60 electoral district create substantial suspicions that there was a focused attempt to create disturbances at the precinct which would result in its annulment. Based on full observation of the voting and tabulation process, ISFED underscores that there is no substantial ground for annulment of the PEC #59 as the integrity of elections at the polling station is not threatened.