The US secretary of State Mike Pompeo sent a letter to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, declaring his firm intention to send international observers for the elections despite the Covid-19 pandemic. “The US supports the recommendation of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to deploy a full monitoring group, which includes a core group, 28 long-term observers and 350 short-term observers. We are also aware of the logistical challenges associated with Covid-19, which may complicate the organization of a full-scale mission. The Department will select volunteers from the United States to join the ODIHR mission,” the letter read.
“In addition to the ODIHR mission, the Embassy of the United States in Tbilisi, in coordination with the Central Election Commission, will provide monitoring by the embassy team. Although the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) have decided not to deploy international observers on election day because of Covid-19, we are working with them to find an alternative solution,” the letter added.
Despite the steady rise of Covid-19 cases in the country, the Georgian government declared its firm intent not to postpone the election date. “Changing the date of the elections or making any changes to the election process, as well as any restrictions that would have a direct economic impact are categorically not on the agenda,” stated the country’s Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia.
The head of Georgia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) Tamar Zhvania also spoke how the elections would be conducted during the pandemic. “Voters with fever will be allowed to vote during the upcoming parliamentary elections,” Zhvania said in an interview with Rustavi 2, noting that as voters only have to be inside buildings for about 15 minutes during the voting process, which does not present a substantial risk spreading Covid-19 “Voters will be allowed to enter polling stations only with face masks. If a voter has no face mask, he/she will be offered one on the spot. Disposable pens will be distributed on the site as well to prevent the possible transmission of the virus. Voting booths will not have curtains but they will be arranged in such a way as to ensure the secrecy of voting. [However], the CEC has not yet decided on the conditions under which individuals infected with the Covid-19 will vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections,” she added.
