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CEC: Record number of foreign observers to monitor presidential elections in Georgia

Over 19,000 representatives form 60 local organisations will monitor the voting
Photo EPA/ZURAB KURTSIKIDZE
Photo EPA/ZURAB KURTSIKIDZE

TBILISI, October 26 (Itar-Tass) - The record number of foreign observers - 1,241 observers from 65 organisations has been registered by the Georgian Central Election Committee to monitor the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for October 27, the CEC told Itar-Tass on Saturday.

Over 19,000 representatives form 60 local organisations will monitor the voting, the CEC said.

Among observers are employees of the OSCE Bureau for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the European Parliament, the USA International Republic Institute (IRI), the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems etc.

In 2008 over 1,000 observers from 64 foreign organisations monitored the presidential elections while about 700 foreign observers watched the voting in 2004.

On Friday, October 25, Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili told Georgian residents that the elections “will be held in a free and democratic atmosphere”.

CEC chairman Tamara Zhnavia said, “Despite the record number of presidential candidates, the situation is not so tense as at the previous elections.”