US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said the selection process of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Head and its members should be transparent “so that the Georgian public has confidence that it is a fair process and that the people who have been put in these very important positions are people who are going to be impartial and professional in administering your elections.”

“Obviously, the last few elections have been controversial and the public needs to see now that they have a CEC Administration that they can trust to be impartial and professional in administering your elections. I hope that that will be the outcome of this process,” US Ambassador noted.

The Administration of the President of Georgia submitted to the Parliament two candidates for the post of the Central Election Commission Chair and four nominees for the CEC membership. Kristine Kajaia, Levan Isakadze, Maia Zaridze and Gia Tsatsashvili were nominated for the two vacant CEC member posts. Incumbent CEC Chair Giorgi Kalandarishvili and Tengiz Tevzadze executive director of Civil Platform 20/20 Tengiz Tevzadze were shortlisted for the post of chairperson.