GYLA Held Presentation of the Project "Monitoring Pre-Election Processes for the 2012 Parliamentary Elections"

On April 4, at 11:00 am, Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association held a presentation of closure of the project "Monitoring Pre-Election Processes for the 2012 Parliamentary Elections" and its final report.

GYLA conducted the pre-election monitoring under the auspices of the project "Monitoring Pre-Election Processes for the 2012 Parliamentary Elections of Georgia", supported by the British Embassy. The research focused on the following key aspects:

• New legislative regulations adopted in late 2011, which create unequal election environment and fail to ensure realization of free and fair elections in the country;

• Implementation of large-scale and one-time budgetary programs that blur the line between the state and the ruling party, creating unequal playing field for political parties.

• Persecuting, intimidation, dismissal from work with alleged political motive.

• Latest activities of the Chamber of Control and later the Interior Ministry.

The research covers the period from late December 2012 to March 30. During the three months, GYLA monitored pre-election processes in four cities of Georgia: Batumi, Kutaisi, Gori and Tbilisi. Monitories of GYLA obtained information from different sources, including by means of requesting public information from public agencies and monitoring media reports. Frequently, ordinary citizens and representatives of political parties provided information about violations and politically motivated persecutions that they had witnessed. After receiving the information, monitors of GYLA verified it personally with applicants and provided legal assistance, if needed.

GYLA started monitoring the pre-election processes long before the elections. Purpose of the research was to reveal pre-elections trends and determine whether there is an equal playing field for all political parties.

GYLA plans to continue monitoring actively and will provide public with findings of its research of the pre-election environment.