GYLA implemented post election monitoring in Tbilisi and 36 district election commissions. In case of revealing violation, GYLA applied to district election commissions and courts with relevant complaints. 

 

In the moment of submitting complaints GYLA paid particular attention to liability of commission members who violated law, as to the tool for preventing further violations. 

It should be noted that post elections day complaints mainly concerned technical gaps, such as filling out election documentation incorrectly/incomprehensively. Number of complaints was written regarding filling out the summary protocol and the control sheet incorrectly. In addition, the complaints were submitted on failure to observe certain procedural issues, such as problems with the seal of the precinct election commission or submission of unstamped log book or registration book and etc. 

 

After the elections day GYLA submitted 153 pieces of complaints in district election commissions and lodged two cases in the court. 

 

Out of 153 complaints 72 complaints were granted fully and 38 complaints – partially by the district election commission. GYLA challenged unfavorable decisions of the district election commission in courts. Out of 2 lodged cases, 1 administrative complaint was fully satisfied and another was satisfied partially. Along with observed violations we would like to stress the general positive trend; 

• Save for some exceptions, district election commissions were predisposed to examine GYLA's complaints precisely, to study important circumstances of the case and assess evidences in a proper manner;  

• While examining the case, district election commissions summoned witness indicated in the document and interrogated them; 

• As opposed to the past practice, save for some exceptions, decisions of election commissions were substantiated. Decisions of the district election commissions provided detailed and substantiated reasoning which is a really positive trend; 

• GYLA's monitors observed some cases, when administration of the district election commission studied deficiencies pro-actively, upon its initiative and imposed responsibility to the offenders. As a result, GYLA's monitors refrained from submitting complaints on the facts. As reported by GYLA's election monitors, Krtsanisi district election commission no. 4 was distinguished for its professionalism and observance of electoral procedures, whereas activities of Gurjani no.12 district election commission deserve unfavorable assessment. It obstructed GYLA's observers in implementing comprehensive monitoring. 

 

GYLA remains hopeful that submitted information will assist election administration in enhancement of their achievements and in elimination of deficiencies that was characteristic to the October 27, 2013 Presidential Elections.  

 

Moreover, we offer you recommendations which, in our opinion, may support development of activities of election administration, namely: 

 

• It is necessary to continue to raise qualification of district election commission members, especially on the procedures of filling out election documentation; 

• There is a need to organize a special training on filling out summary protocols; 

• We think appropriate to introduce the special rule of filling out summary protocol of the election day; 

• It is necessary to review the rule of penalizing members of the election commission envisaged by the legislation, with a view to reduce them. 

 

After summing up the elections GYLA will submit its final reports with analysis of the full picture of the elections including pre-election period, election day, discussion of complaints and calculation of election results.  On the basis of the report GYLA will submit recommendations to election administration and government with a view to ensure conduct of elections in more democratic, liberal and fair environment in future.  

 

Implementation of GYLA's election observation mission during the elections day and in post election period became possible through the financial assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), National Democracy Institute (NDI) and Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF).  Opinions expressed in the statement belong to GYLA and may not expressed viewpoints of OSGF, NDI, USAID or the government of the United States.