A delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) travelled to Georgia on 23-24 September to assess the country’s election campaign and political climate ahead of parliamentary elections on 26 October. 

The six-member delegation was led by ALDE-PACE leader Iulian Bulai and met with various members of Georgia’s government, parliamentary majority and opposition, the Central Electoral Commission and representatives of civil society and the media. 

Most notably, the delegation met with the President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili, the Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili, and the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs. 

Bulai stressed how the elections are taking place at a very crucial moment in Georgia’s European integration trajectory and stressed that free and fair elections are essential to safeguard the country’s rightful place in the EU.

“Our delegation is concerned that polarisation of the political landscape has reached unprecedented levels, turning the forthcoming elections into a de facto referendum on Georgia’s democratic trajectory and foreign alignment," he said.

"I share the concerns of the delegation’s interlocutors about crackdowns on demonstrations and expressions of dissent, which are fully legitimate in a democratic society. The authorities are expected to act in line with human rights standards, refrain from a disproportionate use of violence and demonstrate their ability to conduct due and diligent investigations in cases of violence."

A full ALDE-PACE delegation of 32 members, accompanied by legal experts from the Venice Commission, will travel to Georgia to observe the vote on 26 October alongside other international organisations.

Looking forward arriving to Georgia! 🇬🇪 Looking forward meeting all the important actors in Georgia ahead of the parliamentary elections! @PACE_News @ALDExPACE https://t.co/Vq6C6nYEMN

— Iulian Bulai (@iulibulai) September 21, 2024