“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we managed to hold safe elections”, President of Georgia

Georgia has managed to hold peaceful, just, safe and democratic elections. It can be said – European elections. Despite the severe and unprecedented challenges, yesterday’s parliamentary elections have once again showcased to the world that the country continues its uninterrupted advancement on the path of democracy and development

We were capable of holding elections peacefully, with high a voter turnout and without severe violations. For this, I would like to thank every voter regardless of their political preference, as this is everyone’s victory. I would like to thank law enforcement officers who ensured safety at the polling stations and when necessary, reacted immediately to protect the freedom of choice of our citizens.

I thank the international observer missions for participating in this very important process. We, and personally I, are very proud of their positive assessment of the electoral environment and processes.

We managed to hold elections according a new electoral system, proportional for the most part. Once again, it is a step forward for democracy. And the new election code, which takes into consideration practically every recommendation of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), ensures more multi-partisanship and improved gender balance in Parliament.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we managed to hold safe elections. Orderly queues of citizens at polling stations all over the country showed this. The pandemic did not frighten voters. Caution and a high-level of civic responsibility were felt everywhere.

I thank the Central Election Commission (CEC), its members, chairperson and everyone in the electoral administration that worked for safe and just elections, in the wake of severe pandemic conditions.

Despite the ongoing conflict in the region, we have managed to hold elections in a peaceful environment. The electoral process was peaceful in the regions densely inhabited by our citizens of Armenian and Azerbaijani origins. This is a sign that in the context of this difficult and painful conflict, Georgia remains an island of stability and the nation where the Caucasian tradition of cohabitation and tolerance lives on. I am hopeful that we will be able to play a positive role in restoring peace in our region, a necessary precondition for the development of all three countries.

And lastly, with the parliamentary elections on October 31^st, Georgian society has defeated nihilism and proved itself that the post-Soviet era in Georgia is ending.

Salome Zourabishvili, President of Georgia