Michael Gahler, Head of the EP Delegation said “the EU considers Georgia as a top priority partner.”

“Our relationship is based on the Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area within the Eastern partnership. This has already had an impact on the way Georgian citizens see their future on the path to the integration to the EU and transatlantic security dimension,” he underscored.

Michael Gahler noted that by going to the polls, Georgian citizens exercised their democratic right to choose their local representatives.

“Your participation is the confirmation that you want to have a say in the decisions that concern your immediate livelihoods.

First and foremost, it is the people of Georgia that I want to congratulate wholeheartedly today for the higher turnout than the last municipal elections,” he said.

1/3 Press conference #elections ?? “I want to wholeheartedly congratulate the people of ??for the higher turnout than in the last municipal elections: it is the confirmation that you want to have a say in the decisions concerning your immediate livelihoods” @gahler_michael EP EOM pic.twitter.com/Tca5l713ci

— EP Democracy Support (@EP_DEG) October 3, 2021

International observers have released a statement, saying Georgia’s local elections were competitive and technically well administered, but marred by widespread allegations of electoral violations, vote-buying, and an unlevel playing field, as well as intimidation and pressure.

Local #elections in ??Georgia competitive and well run, but marred by allegations of pressure on voters, vote-buying and an unlevel playing field, international observers say. Read more: https://t.co/qZJ3jHecZt pic.twitter.com/ZJxj3xNMoY

— OSCE/ODIHR (@osce_odihr) October 3, 2021