The parliamentary elections of Georgia in 2012 was evaluated as a test for democracy by local and international observers. The opposition party “Bidzina Ivanishvili- Georgian Dream” gained 54, 85% of votes and “The United National Movement” – 40, 43%. Before, governments were changed in Georgia either via armed coup [so-called Tbilisi civil war in 1991-1992] or through revolution [Rose Revolution in 2003].

Election Day

Election process of October 1 was conducted in different environments in the regions of Georgia. There were calm, noisy and problematic polling stations. According to local observers, most violations were observed in the regions inhabited by ethnic minorities and they are: Sagarejo, Marneuli, Gardabani, Dmanisi, Bolnisi… so-called Armenian carousels (Voters were being given filled out ballots and were ordered to put them in the ballot box.), unmarked voters in election stations, several voters together in one cabin, lack of ballot papers in precincts, oppression on observers and media representatives, aggression from election administration and DEC members, agitation from the election administration and other violations were observed in the polling stations in the regions of Georgia.

One of the most boisterous election processes was observed in Khashuri, Shida Kartli region. According to the local news agency Interpresnews, riot police officers used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse supporters of the opposition coalition in Khashuri who protested stealing of ballot boxes from the PS. According to local population, Georgian Dream was winning elections in Khashuri and government had inspired violent provocation by usage of riot police in the district.

Human Rights Center requested annulment of election results in several polling stations, where grave violations of the law were observed. One of similar problematic polling stations was in Gardabani, Kvemo Kartli region, where alongside with other violations, commission members directly agitated in favor of the concrete political party. So far, none of the HRC’s complaints on annulling election results were satisfied.

So-called Armenian carousel was observed in the polling stations where ballot process was going on in suspiciously peaceful environment. Our doubt is grounded by the fact that number of voters and ballot papers in the box did not coincide with each other in those particular PSs.

Pre-election period

During the pre-election period government of Georgia used many repressive and violent methods against opposition coalition Georgian Dream. Nongovernmental organizations highlighted numerous facts of the abuse of administrative resources in their reports. First intermediate report on the research of pre-election period by the Human Rights Center highlighted legislative amendments introduced to the election law just before the elections; with those changes artificial barriers were created for the opposition parties. Despite that, election bloc Bidzina Ivanishvili – Georgian Dream defeated the ruling party – National Movement both in proportional and majoritarian ballots.

NGOs about election process

Nongovernmental organizations believe that many violations were observed in the election and ballot process that can impact final results of the elections. Chairwoman of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association Tamar Chugoshvili said most frequently, having arrived at the polling stations voters found signatures in their boxes on the voters’ lists. Consequently, there is doubt that other people had participated in the elections with faked ID cards instead them.

Nongovernmental organization Multinational Georgia speaks about systemic violations. Aleksandra Kalatoshvili from the Multinational Georgia said several voters used to enter one cabin together. It is permitted if a voter is a disabled person and needs somebody’s assistance. However, those people did not look like disabled people at all.

Observers became targets of serious violations. Executive director of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) Nino Lomjaria spoke about aggression towards observers.

International organizations about elections in Georgia

61 international organizations monitored election process on October 1. OSCE, NATO, CoE and PACE delegations visited Georgia to observe election process. According to their evaluation, Parliamentary Elections were competitive and credible. International observers added that this election was “successful test of democracy” passed by the country.

Head of Delegation of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Assen Agov said these elections again proved Georgian people’s aspiration for the Euro-Atlantic structures.

Representative of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and head of long-term observation mission Nikolai Vulchanov noted that election law, despite recently introduced amendments to it, requires farther completion and work shall continue in this direction.

In accordance to the preliminary conclusion of the International Republic Institute IRI systemic violations were not observed during the elections. David Dreier – Head of IRI said: “I think it is significant that people participating in the election campaign and entire Georgian people realized that campaign remained in the past; now it is important that various political parties realize public message, unify and jointly work on economic development of the country, improvement of the healthcare system and on all challenges in the country.”

President Mikheil Saakashvili and other leaders of the National Movement stated they could cause political crisis in the country but they will not use this instrument and will allow new parliamentary majority to staff government according to their own plans.

According to recent data of the CEC, according to the results of proportional ballot Georgian Dream (54.85%) will have 44 mandates  and National Movement (40,43%) will have 33 seats in the parliament.. As for majoritarian ballot: Georgian Dream will have 39 more seats and National Movement – 34 majoritarian MPs. The picture might be insignificantly changed if the court annuls results from several election districts; suits with regard to disputable election districts were already lodged into the courts.

Elene Chumburidze