For the first time in its 31-year history, the Georgian Young Lawyers Association will not be able to observe the elections scheduled for October 4, 2025 with a traditional observation mission, reads a statement of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association.

According to GYLA, the local self-government elections scheduled for October 4, 2025 are being held in one of the most difficult and severe political and legal environments in the modern history of Georgia.

“The backsliding of democracy in the country, the repressive policy against civil society organizations and the media, the adoption of restrictive laws, as well as the deterioration of the legal framework for observers under the election legislation, make it practically impossible for us to form a full-fledged observation mission and observe the elections.

GYLA will continue to protect human rights and the rule of law and periodically present an assessment of the current legal environment to the public,” the Georgian Young Lawyers Association said in a statement.