OSCE/ODIHR deploys mission to observe parliamentary elections in Georgia

WARSAW/TBILISI, 10 April 2008 - The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) opened an election observation mission today to monitor the Georgian parliamentary elections scheduled for 21 May 2008. The deployment follows an invitation from the Georgian authorities.

The mission is headed by Ambassador Boris Frlec (Slovenia) and consists of 14 core staff based in Tbilisi and 28 long-term observers who will be deployed across the country. In addition, the ODIHR has requested 350 short-term observers from OSCE participating States, to be deployed immediately prior to the elections. They will monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.

The mission will assess the electoral process in terms of its compliance with OSCE commitments for democratic elections, other international standards, and national legislation. It will closely monitor campaign activities, media coverage, the legislative framework and its implementation, the media situation, the performance of the election administration and relevant government bodies, and the resolution of election-related disputes.

The ODIHR observer mission and the OSCE Mission to Georgia operate separately under their specific mandates.