Three rights groups refuse to take part in a new system meant to guarantee every Georgian the right to vote, because they think the reform may make things worse. Parliament has just decided to establish a new system for going through the voters rolls and make sure that every citizen who has a right to … Read more
Two observers from the Council of Europe (CoE) have asked Georgia’s ruling party to stop coming up with surprise changes in a draft law without going through the normal democratic procedures. At least according to one of the opposition politicians, two rapporteurs from the Monitoring Committee of the CoE’s Parliamentary Assembly asked Georgia’s ruling party … Read more
Work to improve the Georgian election environment has ended as a draft has been sent off to the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission for review and the government promises that parliament will not start its review until the results of the review are clear. It’s hard to say what the Venice Commission’s conclusions will be … Read more
Three non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are seriously concerned after the government’s sudden changes to the draft for a new election law. Now that rights advocates have had time to look closer at the changes, which were worked out behind everyone’s backs and revealed a week ago, their conclusion is that this is a disappointment to everyone … Read more
After reaching a hard-fought agreement with several opposition parties, the ruling party has introduced significant changes in the draft for a new Georgian Election Code. According to lawmakers, the eleventh-hour changes were only made in order to ensure a democratic election environment in the country, however many opposition parties remain skeptical. Some of the changes … Read more
The United States ambassador at the time thought that two recordings which were televised by Saakashvili’s government right before the presidential election in January 2008, decided the final outcome in his favor. The two clandestinely acquired tapes purportedly proved that one the president’s challengers to the presidency had plans to commit a coup d’etat. The … Read more