Transparency International Will Not Be Able to Observe Elections for First Time in 24 Years

The Tbilisi City Court did not overturn the decision of the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Razden Kuprashvili, which declared Transparency International - Georgia and its executive director, Eka Gigauri, as "entities with declared election goals." The non-governmental organization believes the decision is unfounded and aims to target the monitoring organization.

"In light of the rejection of our motion to suspend the decision, the court continues the proceedings to annul the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s decision. However, the refusal to suspend the decision effectively means that our organization is treated as equivalent to a political party, and our executive director as equivalent to the party's electoral entity.

Due to this absurd decision, the regulations established for political parties now apply to us, which obliges us to create a special election fund. We are prohibited from receiving and spending any Western funding, and we are required to submit mandatory financial reports as if we were a political party," said Zviad Koridze, the manager of the organization's regional offices, during a briefing held today.

Transparency International - Georgia does not recognize this "completely illegal status." Zviad Koridze emphasized that neither the organization nor its executive director is participating in the elections, and no representatives of Transparency International are listed on any political party’s candidate list.

"We are not going to comply with the requirements of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Georgian Dream. We categorically state that this decision by the government is a direct attack on the coalition observation and monitoring mission My Vote which we announced.

As things stand, while we have not formally lost our status as an observer organization, we are effectively prevented from directly observing the October 26 parliamentary elections on behalf of Transparency International - Georgia. In the 24 years of our organization's existence, this is the first time we will not have a single observer registered under our name at polling stations.

Nevertheless, every employee of Transparency International - Georgia will use their experience, knowledge, and intellectual resources to assist the observation mission My Vote and our partner organizations in conducting a highly qualified observation of the elections. These barriers will not stop us. We will continue to fight for the European future of our homeland! We will protect every vote," said Zviad Koridze.

On September 24, the Anti-Corruption Bureau declared Transparency International - Georgia and its executive director, Eka Gigauri, as "entities with declared election goals." Consequently, the restrictions applicable to political parties were extended to them.

The decision of the bureau's head, Razden Kuprashvili, stated that Gigauri referred to the parliamentary elections as a type of referendum between Russia and the European Union, aligning with the rhetoric of opposition political parties. In its decision, the Anti-Corruption Bureau also cited Gigauri’s statement made before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee: "For Georgians, the October 26 parliamentary elections are like a referendum - a clear choice between a democratic, prosperous European future and becoming a mired satellite of Russia." However, the decision does not include any statement from Gigauri or any representative of the organization calling on voters to support or oppose a particular party. Another argument used to classify the non-governmental organization and its leader as an "entity with an electoral goal" was their participation in the pre-election campaign My Vote to the European Union.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau also classified the civil movement Vote for Europe, its director Khatuna Lagazidze, and co-founders Sopiko Chkonia, Nikoloz Shurghaia, Giorgi Rukhadze, Shalva Dzebisashvili, Giorgi Papelishvili, Lela Jejelava, Giorgi Taktakishvili, and Ivane Chkonia as "entities with declared election goals."