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Latvian foreign minister calls for international review of election in Georgia

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze appeared before a meeting of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday and said that international organisations should assess all violations that were committed during the recent parliamentary election in Georgia.

Braze said that most people in Latvia are tracking the election in Georgia, because since the first round of presidential elections in Moldova and the referendum on amending the text of the Moldovan Constitution, this was the next test of democracy, both in terms of how elections are run and in terms of what the results turn out to be.

The foreign minister told MPs that Latvia is analysing statements by international observers, adding that there are voluminous reports to suggest malfeasance. Braze insisted that although the irregularities that were identified were serious, observers also reported good things. The election was prepared professionally, there was a broad choice among candidate lists, and in general terms, the electoral commission in Georgia worked professionally.

Braze also, however, pointed to worrying and systematic irregularities, including electronic voting, the issue of ballot papers and whether they could be amended, etc.  These could have had an effect on the results of the election. Braze also said that there was pressure on public administrators and municipal staff and that there were also incidents outside of polling stations during which people tried to influence voters.

The foreign minister went on to say that EU member states are currently consulting on what the next steps might be. She insisted that the issue is whether the irregularities influenced the outcome of the election, as well as whether the results would have been different had the irregularities not been permitted. The minister argued that the right of political parties and organisations in Georgia to do their work must be unencumbered, and fundamental rights and freedoms must be respected.

“We have stated in a joint statement that the alleged violations must be investigated, and it must be made clear how the situation will be changed and improved,” Foreign Minister Braze insisted. “Without such integrity in the electoral process it is difficult to imagine that Georgia has a European future, because these are basic things that are inherent in European countries.”

As has been reported in the past, Georgia’s Central Elections Commission announced on Tuesday that there will be a recount of votes at approximately 14% of polling stations in the country. This following allegations of widespread irregularities from the opposition.

Source: BNS

(Reproduction of BNS information in mass media and other websites without written consent of BNS is prohibited.)

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