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IRI International Election Observation Mission to Georgia Final Report of the 2024 Parliamentary Election: 1. Misuse of State Resources and Uneven Playing Field: "The ruling party also allegedly launched a widespread campaign to collect profiling data on citizens, reportedly using government resources, in violation of voters’ privacy. These government actions created an uneven playing field, compromising the fairness of the election." 2. Systematic Voter Intimidation: "There was widespread and systematic political intimidation and coercion, particularly in rural and ethnic-minority areas." "While election day proceeded without major technical issues, the presence of video cameras in polling stations and the use of special pens that compromised ballot secrecy exacerbated fears of voter intimidation." 3. Manipulation and Irregularities on Election Day: "Election day malpractices included coordinated efforts of voter surveillance, coercion, vote buying, carousel voting, breaches of ballot secrecy, interference with inking procedures, and obstruction of domestic observers." 4. Overall conclusion: “A legal framework and regulatory practices that hindered genuine electoral competition, misuse of public resources by the ruling government, the targeting of civil society, obstruction of opposition parties, systematic voter intimidation, and lack of public confidence and trust in institutions contributed to an election that was fundamentally flawed." “The mission observed significant irregularities in the electoral process, highlighting four primary areas of concern: inequitable conditions and misuse of state resources; suppression of civil society and opposition parties; systematic voter intimidation; state capture of electoral and judicial institutions; and rejection of the results." |
