Georgian Parliament official emphasises OSCE/ODHIR invitation as proactive step to counter speculation, prevent artificial tensions

David Matikashvili, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party and Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on Procedural Issues and Rules, on Saturday emphasised the invitation of the OSCE/ODHIR to observe the local self-government elections scheduled for October 4, as proactive step to counter speculation and prevent artificial tensions.

In his remarks, Matikashvili emphasised the move as a proactive step to counter speculation and prevent artificial tensions.

“Despite the fact that it is not traditionally customary to invite the OSCE/ODIHR as observers for local self-government elections, to ensure that all speculation is put to rest and no grounds are created for artificially escalating tensions or spreading falsehoods on certain issues, a decision has been made to invite an observation mission”, Matikashvili said.

He further noted that the invitation was built on the Government’s earlier stance, which conditioned such an invitation on the radical opposition and their sponsors acknowledging the OSCE/ODIHR’s findings from the 2024 parliamentary elections.

“We had previously announced that there would be no issue with inviting this important observation mission if the radical wing, both politicians and their sponsors, acknowledged and confirmed the results recorded by the OSCE/ODIHR in 2024”, he concluded.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Saturday announced his Government’s decision to invite the OSCE/ODIHR mission to observe the upcoming local self-government elections scheduled for October 4, with a formal letter already sent to the organisation.