Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association has already started the 2014 Local Self-Government Pre-Election Observation. GYLA implements the observation through the regional branch offices in 8 regions: Adjara, Guria, Imereti, Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Samegrelo and in the capital - Tbilisi.

 

The goal of the observation is to support fair and transparent electoral processes; to ensure that the election administration members, electoral subjects and the public servants abide by the electoral legislation and the internationally recognized democratic standards during the pre-election period.  In addition, GYLA aims at informing the citizens of Georgia and the international community of the shortcomings and violations relating to the 2014 Local Self-Government pre-election processes.

 

Generally, GYLA observers pay the greatest attention to the composition of the electoral administration, voter bribery, inappropriate use of administrative resources, intimidation and threatening of political unions/electoral subjects and their representatives, potential facts of politically motivated persecutions and dismissals. 

 

As a rule, GYLA informs the election administration, Inter-Agency Task Force for Free and Fair Elections (IATF) and the State Audit Office of the identified violations. Prior to publishing the present statement GYLA had already presented two statements to the IATF, which relate to the content of the recommendation to be presented by the IATF and the presumed violation of the law by the public servant in Shida Kartli.

 

Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association is conducting the 2014 Local Self-Government Pre-Election Observation with the financial assistance of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).