US Embassy statement on ISFED “shocking” – ruling party head

The US Embassy to Georgia statement on the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy NGO, that its exclusion “raises questions about the sincerity of Parliament’s electoral reform process”, is “shocking”, head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Kobakhidze said on Tuesday, in comments of the ruling party decision not to invite the NGO to the parliamentary working group on electoral issues for Georgia’s EU candidacy, accusing ISFED of “being politically biased”. 

“The incorrect parallel vote-count data provided by the NGO following the 2020 parliamentary elections were used by the radical opposition to take to the street”, Kobakhidze said, noting that the NGOs “anti-Governmental sentiments” were known to the public. 

Four former MPs of the ruling party,who in June left the GD “to tell the public the truth 

“said yesterday that the US Embassy was backing anti-Governmental forces in Georgia and was willing to see the return of the United National Movement opposition party to power. 

The US Embassy said that the exclusion of ISFED, “one of Georgia’s most trusted and experienced election observation organizations”, from the Parliamentary working group on election reforms “directly contradicts” the European Commission’s recommendation that Georgia “ensure the involvement of civil society in decision-making processes at all levels.” 

“ISFED was selected by its peer organizations to represent civil society at the working group because of its expertise, professionalism, and long experience with election reform. Civil society organizations serve as the voice of the people on a range of issues and play a vital role in ensuring that citizens’ needs, priorities, and preferences are addressed. ISFED’S exclusion raises questions about the sincerity of Parliament’s electoral reform process”, said the Embassy. 

ISFED had accused the Government of “prosecution” for the decision.