Osman Askin Bak, head of the delegation from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, said: “This was an important election for Georgia’s transition to a parliamentary system of government.”

Osman Askin Bak pointed out that “Georgian voters, once again, demonstrated their strong commitment to democracy despite the exceptional challenges posed by the pandemic.”

“We observed a competitive election in which fundamental freedoms were generally upheld and most procedures were followed. It was, however, far from flawless. A number of issues in the implementation created a somewhat uneven playing field and affected public confidence in parts of the process. These must be addressed,” stated head of the delegation from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

Osman Askin Bak noted that “the elections were held in a well-organized manner, which was discussed many times through an inclusive consultation process, but many issues still need to be addressed, including the polarization of the media and insufficient consideration of issues related to campaign funding.”

“Also pressure on voters and the lack of a dividing line between the ruling party and the state. These issues that we have identified, created an unequal environment and have affected public trust in the election process,” said Osman Askin Bak.

The head of the delegation from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly “calls on all political parties to act responsibly in the coming days and weeks, as well as to engage constructively in the effective implementation of additional reforms.”

“Such efforts are essential for Georgia to make progress on its path to Euro-Atlantic integration. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly continues to support Georgia in making these efforts,” stressed Osman Askin Bak.

Osman Askin Bak with ten members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly observed the election process in Tbilisi and Mtskheta.