UK Embassy in Georgia says they are compelled to cancel planned grant proposals that were aimed at supporting the transparency and competitiveness of the upcoming municipal elections.
The diplomatic mission explains that following discussions with the Georgian authorities, they were informed that the government decree “On the Procedure for Grant Approval” has not yet been finalized. Therefore, at present, there are no mechanisms or timelines in place for making decisions regarding grant approvals.
“The United Kingdom made good-faith efforts to obtain approval for a number of projects aimed at supporting civil society in voter education and citizen election monitoring. It should be noted that these activities were recognized as valuable by the Central Election Commission,” the statement reads.
“However, after discussions with the Georgian government, we were informed that the decree ‘On the Procedure for Grant Approval’ is still not finalized. Accordingly, there are no mechanisms or deadlines for making decisions about grant approvals at this time.
“Regrettably, due to this uncertainty, we are compelled to cancel the planned grant proposals, which were intended to support the transparency and competitiveness of the upcoming municipal elections.
“We are also concerned that, unlike during the previous municipal elections, the government has not yet invited the OSCE/ODIHR observation mission, nor is it facilitating the activities necessary for citizen-led election monitoring.
“The absence of professionally trained observers operating in accordance with international standards could be seen as a step backwards, potentially reducing public trust in the transparency of the democratic process in Georgia.
“The United Kingdom remains ready for dialogue on how it can support democratic development in Georgia and regrets the loss of this opportunity, which was intended to contribute to objective, professional, and transparent monitoring of the October municipal elections,” the UK Embassy’s statement reads.
