The IATF today met with Georgian observer organizations to address issues related to the electoral process.

Participants discussed the recommendations that had been made by IATF and the monitoring of their implementation. NGO representatives inquired about how the IATF disseminates its recommendations among various agencies at both the central and local government levels. 

The IATF’s latest recommendation—concerning allegations that ministries and local authorities were involved in gathering signatures of ruling party supporters—also was a focus of discussion during the meeting. IATF members called on the NGOs to provide evidence that such a practice was in fact taking place.

The need for political parties to agree on a code of conduct during the electoral campaign also was discussed.

Participants agreed as well on how civil society, the Central Election Commission, and the IATF will cooperate in future on specific activities to restrict the use of administrative resource.

Participants in the meeting included representatives of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association, Transparency International–Georgia, the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, New Generation–New Initiative. Representatives of IRI, NDI, and IFES also participated in the meeting as observers.