The commission in charge of selecting candidates for the chairmanship and membership of the Central Election Commission (CEC) has started conducting interviews with the candidates.

Three members of the nine-member selection commission, including the President’s representative, have suspended their powers. However, the commission is continuing its work with the remaining six members.

During an organizational session held yesterday, two heads of non-governmental organizations, Nino Chkhobadze and Zaur Khalilov, asked for a temporary postponement of the commission’s work due to the bill on Transparency of Foreign Influence. However, their request was denied, which led to Chkhobadze and Khalilov suspending their powers.

In a show of solidarity, the representative of the President also withdrew from the selection process after consulting with President Salome Zourabichvili. Nonetheless, the commission is still authorized to continue its work even without these three members.

Only one application has been received for the position of CEC chairman, which is from Giorgi Kalandarishvili. Moreover, four candidates have shown interest in filling the vacant positions of three professional members of the CEC.

Today, the commission will interview the candidate for the chairmanship of the CEC, Giorgi Kalandarishvili.