Presidential Election, 27 October 2013
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Mission at a glance
- Head of Mission: Matteo Mecacci (Italy)
- 16 core team experts from 15 participating States, based in Tbilisi
- 28 long-term observers to be deployed throughout the country
Mission schedule
- 19 September: Opening press conference
- 25 September: Deployment of long-term observers
- 27 October: Election day
- 28 October: Press conference on preliminary findings and conclusions
- 3 November: Departure of long-term observers
- 7 November: Departure of the core team
Press Conference
Following an official invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, and in accordance with its mandate, the OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) for the 27 October 2013 presidential election.
Based on the findings and conclusions of the OSCE/ODIHR EOM for the 2012 parliamentary elections, the EOM will be of a format similar to the one deployed for the previous elections. In the case of a second round of the election, the EOM may remain in country to continue its observation.
Long-term observation
The OSCE/ODIHR EOM, headed by Matteo Mecacci, began work on 16 September. The EOM has a core team of 16 international staff drawn from 15 OSCE participating States based in the head office in Tbilisi. Twenty-eight long-term observers are expected to arrive in Georgia by 23 September and will be deployed in teams of two throughout the regions.
The mission will assess the election for compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as national legislation. Observers will follow campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant state bodies, implementation of the legislative framework, and the resolution of election disputes. As part of the observation, the EOM will conduct comprehensive monitoring of the media.
Election day
The OSCE/ODIHR will request 300 short-term observers to be deployed immediately prior to the 27 October election. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multi-national teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.
The day after the election, the OSCE/ODIHR will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.
Previous elections
ODIHR has been observing elections in Georgia since 1999, most recently the 27 April 2013 by-elections and the 1 October 2012 parliamentary elections.