Newsroom
Preliminary statement on parliamentary elections in Georgia
TBILISI 15 November 1999
TBILISI, 15 November 1999 - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Election Observation Mission for the 1999 parliamentary elections in Georgia issued a statement of preliminary findings after the second round of voting held on 14 November 1999.
The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission considered the first round of the parliamentary election to be a step towards compliance with OSCE commitments. The elections during the second round were well conducted in some districts and precincts but were marred with irregularities in others. The Election Observation Mission is particularly concerned about a number of serious violations of OSCE commitments, including intimidation of members of Precinct Election Com-missions (PECs) and ballot stuffing in Tbilisi, Abasha, and Chkhorotsku.
The tabulation of the results of the first round suffered from deficiencies of the election law, which failed to provide for sufficient transparency, thus undermining confidence in the process. Only 13 out of 19 members of the CEC signed the final results as announced by the CEC, an in-dication of lack of confidence in the process by some CEC members.
The CEC handled poorly electoral complaints and declined to even consider some of them. Con-fusion surrounded the deadlines and rules regarding the correct forum for a complaint to be filed. The Supreme Court has begun to process complaints in relation to CEC decision and has in one important case overruled the CEC decision.
In Martvili District and in a number of polling stations in other districts, the vote count and in some cases polling did not take place because of irregularities, confusion and violence. Also, the counting procedures in Tbilisi, in Districts No 1, 5 and 9 as well as violence in District No 9 raised serious concerns.
Nonetheless, a significant number of PEC members performed professionally during these elections.
This statement was issued before the tabulation of results of the second round is completed. The OSCE/ODIHR will issue a comprehensive final report on the parliamentary election within a month after the completion of the election process.
Second round elections were conducted in 20 districts where no candidates were elected at the first round. Additionally, polling took place in a number of precincts from 5 districts where the Central Election Commission (CEC) cancelled the 31 October majority vote, due to serious ir-regularities.
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights established an Election Observation Mission in Tbilisi on 23 September 1999. Mr. Nikolai Vulchanov was appointed as Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission. Following the first round of the elections, the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission issued a preliminary statement on 1 November. During the second round, the ODIHR Election Observation Mission deployed 35 observers from 12 OSCE participating States who visited approximately 150 election precincts.
Text - Preliminary Statement - Parliamentary Elections (second round), Georgia
MEDIA CONTACT: For further information please contact Mr. Nikolai Vulchanov, Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission (+995 32 920624) or Mr. Emanuele Giaufret, Election Officer, ODIHR Election Section in Warsaw (+48 22 520 0600).
The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission considered the first round of the parliamentary election to be a step towards compliance with OSCE commitments. The elections during the second round were well conducted in some districts and precincts but were marred with irregularities in others. The Election Observation Mission is particularly concerned about a number of serious violations of OSCE commitments, including intimidation of members of Precinct Election Com-missions (PECs) and ballot stuffing in Tbilisi, Abasha, and Chkhorotsku.
The tabulation of the results of the first round suffered from deficiencies of the election law, which failed to provide for sufficient transparency, thus undermining confidence in the process. Only 13 out of 19 members of the CEC signed the final results as announced by the CEC, an in-dication of lack of confidence in the process by some CEC members.
The CEC handled poorly electoral complaints and declined to even consider some of them. Con-fusion surrounded the deadlines and rules regarding the correct forum for a complaint to be filed. The Supreme Court has begun to process complaints in relation to CEC decision and has in one important case overruled the CEC decision.
In Martvili District and in a number of polling stations in other districts, the vote count and in some cases polling did not take place because of irregularities, confusion and violence. Also, the counting procedures in Tbilisi, in Districts No 1, 5 and 9 as well as violence in District No 9 raised serious concerns.
Nonetheless, a significant number of PEC members performed professionally during these elections.
This statement was issued before the tabulation of results of the second round is completed. The OSCE/ODIHR will issue a comprehensive final report on the parliamentary election within a month after the completion of the election process.
Second round elections were conducted in 20 districts where no candidates were elected at the first round. Additionally, polling took place in a number of precincts from 5 districts where the Central Election Commission (CEC) cancelled the 31 October majority vote, due to serious ir-regularities.
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights established an Election Observation Mission in Tbilisi on 23 September 1999. Mr. Nikolai Vulchanov was appointed as Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission. Following the first round of the elections, the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission issued a preliminary statement on 1 November. During the second round, the ODIHR Election Observation Mission deployed 35 observers from 12 OSCE participating States who visited approximately 150 election precincts.
Text - Preliminary Statement - Parliamentary Elections (second round), Georgia
MEDIA CONTACT: For further information please contact Mr. Nikolai Vulchanov, Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission (+995 32 920624) or Mr. Emanuele Giaufret, Election Officer, ODIHR Election Section in Warsaw (+48 22 520 0600).