The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia responded to “another discrediting campaign against the election administration” in a statement.

The CEC notes that various political parties are using the conclusions of the Venice Commission, which pertain to amendments to election legislation, to launch an attack against the election administration. The CEC claims interested parties attempt to interpret the Venice Commission’s conclusions in ways that suit their narratives.

“The conversation has started again about the legitimacy of the election administration, while there is no record of similar content in the conclusion. At the same time, they do not talk about the important issue mentioned in the conclusion of the Venice Commission, such as the need for clear criteria for the dismissal of the members appointed by the parties in the election administration, which should ensure their real independence and impartiality,” the statement reads.

The statement reads that all CEC members, including the chair, perform their duties under the law. The CEC highlighted its continued operation without interruption, focusing on modernizing the electoral process.

“The election administration is taking all necessary measures to conduct elections in line with international standards and successfully deploy electronic voting technologies. Only in 2023, two by-elections/special elections were held at a high professional level,” it reads.

The CEC urges political entities and other stakeholders in the election process to evaluate the election administration based on its actions and not to damage the election process due to their political agenda.