First Interim Report of the Pre-Election Monitoring (August 1 - September 8)

Temporary members of DECs were selected within the time limits prescribed by the Election Code. However, ISFED found that among temporary members selected for 73 DECs, 14 were related to officials of the electoral administration or other public officials, and in 7 cases supporters or activists of the Georgian Dream were elected to district commissions. The appointment of party activists as professional members of DECs jeopardizes trust towards electoral commissions and calls impartiality of the electoral administration into question. The process of selection of PEC members was also problematic. Announcement of the competition was preceded by release of a recording of a phone conversation of Krtsanisi DEC Chair, which attracted much public attention. Following the release of the recordings, the DEC Chair resigned. ISFED found that requests to interview PEC membership candidates were made in 45 districts by DEC members appointed by the United National Movement (UNM), however none of these requests were met and none of the districts held interviews in commission as a whole. UNM-appointed members were allowed to interview candidates independently, however majority of candidates did not show up for an interview. ISFED identified different municipal events that were allegedly organized for winning support of voters, which creates risks of vote buying and misuse of administrative resources. ISFED also detected possible involvement of charitable and religious organizations in campaigns, in violation of the Election Code that prohibits involvement of such organizations in campaigning. Significant budget amendments were made in municipalities, which may be due to the fact that since May significant budget amendments were actively introduced in many municipalities, while social and infrastructural projects provided in the State and self-government budgets are planned in a way that their main activities often coincide with the campaign period. The Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC) imposed a fine on Rustavi 2 TV for airing paid political advertising during non-electoral period without notifying the regulatory authority. ISFED disapproves of this decision, as it may have a chilling effect on broadcasters as they may potentially refrain from airing political/pre-election advertisement during non-electoral period. Another dangerous precedent is the instruction provided to broadcasters by the GNCC that mandates television companies to verify credibility of election-related public opinion poll results. Otherwise, they may be subjected to monetary fines. The Public Broadcaster management unilaterally terminated employment contracts of some of its employees, which is risky and ill-founded. This decision minimizes employment guarantees for other reporters that work for this channel, which may affect their impartiality and increase their dependence on political opinions of the GPB management.