Pre-Election Monitoring for the Runoffs of the 2016 Parliamentary Elections Interim Report

The monitoring was supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and involved 38 long-term observers in all electoral districts where the runoffs were to be held. The monitoring period covered October 9-27, 2016. The runoff elections were scheduled for October 30, 2016, in 50 electoral districts where no candidate had secured more than 50% of the votes in the first round. The top two candidates in 44 districts were from the Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia and the United National Movement. In two districts, the Georgian Dream's majoritarian candidate and an independent majoritarian candidate were competing, while in another two districts, candidates from the Free Democrats and the Georgian Dream were competing. Opposition party candidates reported acts of harassment and intimidation of their supporters or coordinators in different electoral districts. ISFED observed 2 cases of physical confrontation, 8 cases of intimidation/harassment on alleged political grounds, 1 case of alleged politically motivated dismissal, 2 cases of abuse of administrative resources and vote buying, and 2 cases when PEC members were present in the Georgian Dream's campaign offices. Violent incidents occurred at three polling stations in Zugdidi and Marneuli electoral districts on October 8, creating a negative setting for the pre-election period. The police response to these incidents was criticized for being uneven and selective. In Marneuli, 6 people were arrested and remanded in custody, while in Zugdidi, only 2 suspects were detained, with one being released on bail. ISFED documented several cases of physical confrontation and harassment of opposition supporters and activists on political grounds. In Kharagauli, a PEC member was assaulted by local leaders of the Georgian Dream, while in Samgori, supporters of the Georgian Dream allegedly beat members of the UNM youth organization. In Chiatura, the majoritarian candidate of the Free Democrats reported that the Georgian Dream majoritarian candidate had intimidated him and his supporters. The pre-election environment was characterized by a high level of tension and violence, with opposition supporters and activists facing harassment and intimidation on political grounds. The law enforcement authorities were criticized for their uneven and selective response to these incidents, which raised suspicions about selective approach to criminal offenses perpetrated during the election period.