"There is no global practice of inviting OSCE/ODIHR to observe local government elections, except in rare cases, as we had in 2021. There is no need for it today," said Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze to journalists, responding to a statement from the British Embassy in Georgia, which called on the authorities to invite an OSCE/ODIHR mission to observe the local government elections.
As Kaladze noted, "OSCE/ODIHR’s conclusions were trampled underfoot."
"The OSCE/ODIHR observed the parliamentary elections. They presented their respective conclusions. We remember that for months, a targeted campaign was conducted regarding those conclusions. If we look at international practices, OSCE/ODIHR is never invited to local government elections anywhere, except in exceptional cases. I repeat, there is no global practice of inviting OSCE/ODIHR to observe local elections, except for rare exceptions, as we had in 2021. There is no need for it today, especially given that the conclusions of these organizations were trampled underfoot," Kaladze stated.
Additionally, he spoke about the opposition’s participation in the local government elections, noting that the opposition will make the decision they are instructed to make.
"I’m not at all interested in what the radical group decides. They will do whatever they are told. Just a few months ago, you remember their statements and positions. They openly said none of them intended to participate in the elections. Today, their positions have changed. They will do what they are told," Kaladze said.
For context, the British Embassy in Georgia has called on the Georgian government to invite an OSCE/ODIHR mission to observe the local government elections and to take into account all recommendations from ODIHR’s final report on the 2024 parliamentary elections. This was stated in the British Embassy’s statement.
Furthermore, as noted in the statement, Georgian legislation provides for monitoring by observer organizations, which is an important part of professional and transparent electoral oversight.