Hereby, we would like to express our position on the developments during the meeting of the Inter-agency Task Force or Free and Fair Elections (IATF) on October 11, 2013 when the United National Movement made a decision on leaving the commission. As participants of the meeting who have witnessed the developments we confirm that there was a verbal altercation between UNM member and the chairwoman of the IATF, during which MP Tinatin Bokuchava accused the latter of trying to “destroy” the United National Movement while the Minister of Justice responded that they had already done it successfully.

October 8 – Director of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy Nino Lomjaria held a press-conference in the press club of Radio One. During the press-conference she discussed with journalists petition against Georgia’s participation in Sochi Olympics.

On September 24, 2-12, several days before the parliamentary elections, the Central Elections Commission adopted a resolution N42/2012 regulating photo and video shooting at election precincts on the polling day.

One year ago, on 18 September 2012, videos emerged in the media showing torture and the inhumane and degrading treatment of prisoners in the penitentiary system.

The CEC has a new chairperson. Zurab Kharatishvili was replaced by Tamar Zhvania by members of the CEC. 

Less than two months ahead the presidential elections, the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB), once again, is at the center of politically charged allegations and developments.

ISFED believes that the CEC refusal to register Ms. Salome Zourabishvili as presidential candidate is based on wrongful interpretation of the Constitution.