For the first time in its 31-year history, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association is not able to carry out its traditional election monitoring mission during the elections scheduled for 4 October 2025.

The local self-government elections planned for 4 October 2025 are taking place in one of the most difficult political and legal environments in Georgia’s modern history. The regression of democracy, repressive policies against civil society organizations and the media, the adoption of restrictive laws, as well as the deterioration of the legal framework for election observers under the election legislation, have made it practically impossible for us to form a full-scale monitoring mission and observe the elections.

GYLA will continue to defend human rights and the rule of law and will periodically present its assessment of the ongoing legal environment to the public.