We have made a decision to invite the OSCE/ODIHR mission to observe the local self-government elections, and a corresponding letter has already been sent to the organisation, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced at the briefing at the government administration.
According to the Prime Minister, the Georgian government confirms its full readiness to create all conditions for the OSCE/ODIHR mission to fully observe the elections.
“The deadline for registering candidates for the local self-government elections expired the day before yesterday, and it finally became clear that two parties represented in the radical opposition – the National Movement and Akhali – are boycotting the elections and, moreover, are declaring their participation in the elections as treason, while two parties – Lelo and For Georgia – are participating in the elections. These two parties were able to nominate mayoral candidates in 37 out of 64 election districts.
As you know, the issue of inviting the OSCE/ODIHR mission to observe the local elections is still on the agenda. We have been stating for the past few weeks that we would immediately invite the OSCE/ODIHR mission if the radical opposition and its foreign patrons would confirm their respect for the OSCE/ODIHR conclusion on the 2024 parliamentary elections.
You all remember that because of this conclusion, the OSCE/ODIHR has repeatedly become the target of attacks by the radical opposition and its foreign patrons. Among them, European and former American bureaucrats have also expressed gross disrespect for last year’s OSCE/ODIHR conclusion.
Unfortunately, this is the current face of European bureaucracy. They will only recognize law and democracy if their favorite force, in Georgia’s case the collective National Movement, wins the elections. Otherwise, democracy and the will of the people become the object of their aggressive attack, as we saw in the 2024 parliamentary elections. Given this approach of the European bureaucracy, it is expected that this year the OSCE/ODIHR mission will be put under even greater pressure than we witnessed last year. Accordingly, we understand that by inviting us to Georgia, we are posing a serious challenge to the OSCE/ODIHR.
However, despite all the above circumstances, including the fact that the radical opposition and its patrons did not show respect for the OSCE ODIHR’s conclusion last year, even after our call, in order to leave no questions regarding the elections, we made a decision to invite the OSCE/ODIHR mission to observe the local self-government elections, in connection with which a corresponding letter has already been sent to the OSCE/ODIHR.
We hope that despite repeated insults and pressure, the OSCE/ODIHR will not refrain from sending an observation mission to Georgia. The Georgian government confirms its full readiness to create all conditions for the OSCE/ODIHR mission to fully observe the elections, as is tradition,” the Prime Minister said.
Irakli Kobakhidze: We have made a decision to invite the OSCE/ODIHR mission to observe the local self-government elections, and a corresponding letter has already been sent to the organisation
