Georgian Parliament official suggests political motives behind OSCE/ODIHR’s refusal to observe upcoming local elections

Gia Volski, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party and the First Vice Speaker of the Parliament, on Wednesday suggested that the OSCE/ODIHR’s decision to decline Georgia’s invitation to observe the upcoming local self-government elections scheduled for October 4 may stem from external pressures to avoid issuing another positive assessment of the country’s electoral process.

In his remarks, Volski suggested that the refusal could be an attempt to sidestep potential escalation or criticism.

“History does not recall such pressure and bullying since the OSCE/ODIHR observed [the 2024parliamentary] elections in Georgia and issued a positive conclusion. There are assumptions that they wanted to avoid such potential escalation”, Volski said.

He referenced the organisation’s positive conclusion following Georgia’s parliamentary elections, noting unprecedented “pressure and bullying” faced by the OSCE/ODIHR since that report.

“It may not suit some that a normal, European-standard observer invited by the state is present in Georgia, which would create the precondition for another positive conclusion to be published regarding the conducted elections”, 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.