The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has announced it will not deploy an election observation mission to Georgia’s upcoming local elections on October 4, citing the government’s delayed invitation.
Maria Telalian, ODIHR Director, stated that the organization received the official request only weeks before the vote, leaving insufficient time to conduct meaningful observation in line with ODIHR’s comprehensive methodology. “Transparent and credible election observation requires thorough preparation and access to all key stages of the electoral process,” Telalian emphasized. “Unfortunately, the decision by the Georgian authorities to invite us at such a late stage makes effective observation impossible.”
ODIHR had previously urged Georgian authorities to issue a timely invitation but said its repeated calls were ignored. Despite not observing the elections, ODIHR reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring developments in Georgia related to democratic governance, human rights, and the rule of law.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on September 6 that the government had invited ODIHR to observe the elections. However, ODIHR confirmed on September 9 that the timing made meaningful observation unfeasible.
In response, Central Election Commission (CEC) spokesperson Natia Ioseliani voiced regret over ODIHR’s decision and stressed the importance of international monitoring for ensuring a healthy electoral environment. Speaking at a press conference, Ioseliani noted that 16 international and 9 local observer organizations have already registered and encouraged others to apply within the legal deadlines: September 24 for local observers, September 27 for international organizations, and September 29 for media accreditation.
While the Georgian opposition has claimed credit for pushing the government to extend the invitation, ODIHR’s decision underscores growing international concerns over Georgia’s democratic trajectory ahead of the October elections.
By Team GT
