ELECTION: Ten Pre-Conditions for Free and Fair Elections

On November 12, three Georgian non-governmental organizations that will be involved in monitoring the early presidential elections expected to take place on January 5, 2008 signed a document that outlines ten issues that the NGOs regard as necessary pre-conditions for promoting free and fair conduct during the upcoming elections. Below please find the text of the document.

Best regards,
Transparency International Georgia
26 Rustaveli Ave.
Tel: +995 32 93 21 29
+995 32 99 93 35
Fax: +995 32 92 02 51
E-mail: info@transparency.ge
www.transparency.ge


1. The State of Emergency should be lifted without delay.
2. Media freedom should be restored and guaranteed.
3. The right of assembly should be restored and guaranteed.
4. The legislative framework for the elections should be clarified as quickly as possible, while
ensuring the greatest possible degree of consensus between election stakeholders and
participation of relevant local and international organizations.
5. The elections should be administered at every level in an impartial and professional
manner.
6. Administrative resources should not be used to support the campaign of any candidate or
any option in the plebiscite.
7. Every effort must be made to maximize the accuracy of the voters’ lists, including
publication of lists for inspection by citizens as soon as possible so that all necessary
corrections can be made.
8. Every citizen should be provided with adequate and timely information, including the
address of the relevant polling station in order to be able to cast their ballot. Particular
attention needs to be paid to the rights of ethnic minorities.
9. All election subjects should ensure transparency of their election expenditures. This should
include provision of information for the public as well as the election administration.
10. The protocols of election results should be posted at every polling station as soon as the
count has been completed and the CEC should publish results for every PEC within 48
hours of the election.

Signed by:

* Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA)
* Transparency International - Georgia
* International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)

Date: November 12, 2007

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