Chairperson

Adjara A/R Government 

 

February 1, 2013

 

 

Dear Mr. Khabadze

On January 29, 2013, the Supreme Council of Adjara adopted new regulations for staffing the Supreme Election Commission (SEC).  

On December 16, 2012, having learnt that the Supreme Council of Adjara A/R was considering amendments to the procedure for staffing the SEC, we addressed the Council with a special statement, expressly highlighting that hasty adoption of amendments to the regulations for staffing the SEC, outside the scope of the election reform, would be unacceptable. 

Notwithstanding the position of the NGOs, the procedure for staffing of the Supreme Election Commission was amended outside the scope of the election reform, in a manner that was torn out of context. We perceived this as an attempt to exert an influence on the election administration. 

Amending the procedure for staffing the SEC in a hasty manner, without public engagement is peculiar in view of the fact that the Parliament of Georgia, domestic and international organizations are actively discussing the election reform in a broader working format. 

We believe that improving the election system, including reforming the SEC, must occur within a unified election reform. Therefore, we apply to you with a request to exercise the power delegated to you by the Constitution of Adjara A/R and return the draft law sent to you for signing back to the Supreme Court with motivated comments. 

Enclosed, you may find the legal opinion prepared by the NGOs on matters pertinent to discussions and adoption of the draft law. 

 

Nino Lomjaria

International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)

 

Kakha Kozhoradze

Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA)

 

Eka Gigauri

Transparency International - Georgia