ioseliani: Public Defender Cannot Discuss Whether Elections Are Legitimate

"The point is that this question is not directed to the Public Defender. Neither I nor any previous Public Defender in Georgia has assessed the legitimacy of elections, as it does not fall within our mandate. We are not a watchdog organization, nor did we monitor the elections. Therefore, whether the elections are legitimate or not is not something the Public Defender can discuss" Levan Ioseliani, the Public Defender of Georgia, responded to a journalist's question regarding the legitimacy of the recent parliamentary elections.

Ioseliani added that questions from politicians directed at the Public Defender about the elections stem either from incompetence or an attempt to discredit him. Among those who called on him to comment on election irregularities was Tamar Kordzaia, deputy and leader of Unity - National Movement.

“I don’t understand why I was questioned. Many people ask such questions out of incompetence, while others do so intending to discredit the Public Defender's Office. Politicians, in particular, have questioned us in ways clearly aimed at discrediting us. Their goal is to drag me or my office into this political discourse, despite knowing well that we do not observe elections.

As a Public Defender, I am not aligned with any political party. I do not stand with them, nor do I echo certain statements - many of which are so absurd that they defy common sense. For instance, the claim that 350 000 people were transported in 'carousels,'" Ioseliani said.

When asked if he believed Georgian Dream fabricated 350 000 votes, Ioseliani replied:

"I don’t see how transporting 350 000 people around the country is feasible. Even if it were possible, it would require around 30 000 mini buses and 10 000 buses. If this supposedly happened without anyone noticing, I find that implausible. I haven’t lost my sanity. I also cannot believe that over 100 000 people had their IDs confiscated without a single complaint. For two months, we’ve been asking people: if anyone had their license taken away, please come forward. So far, no one has claimed their license was forcibly taken. Some objective facts are apparent - such as the ink leaking on ballots - but these need to be evaluated in the broader context to determine whether or not they affected voters' free will. My role as Public Defender is to ensure that people could vote without obstruction. There were procedural violations - no one denies that. Just look at the written complaints. The OSCE/ODIHR report is a prime example, as it highlights numerous violations.

“It’s clear what the opposition is seeking - they exist to make demands like these, such as calling for the cancellation of election results and new elections. However, all demands must be backed by evidence. Out of 3111 precincts, where summary protocols were signed by representatives of all opposition parties, only nine contained dissenting opinions. Around 47 000 observers were present. If we are to believe that all were bribed or silenced, and that only seven official complaints were made regarding ballot tampering, this defies basic common sense. Such a scenario is simply impossible."

Ioseliani noted that, on election day, the Public Defender's Office registered 110 alleged criminal incidents. He urged the opposition to bring forward evidence of forgery, bribery, or confiscation of ID cards. If the state fails to address these allegations, he invites them to appeal to the Public Defender.