ISFED Says It Won’t Observe October 4 Local Elections with ‘Standard Mission’
The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Georgia’s prominent election watchdog, said it will not observe the upcoming local elections with its “standard mission,” citing the conditions necessary for a free, fair, and competitive vote as having been “largely not met.” The organization said it will, however, still monitor related developments.
“In ISFED’s view, the three conditions outlined in the Venice Commission’s Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters – respect for fundamental rights, stability of electoral law, and the existence of procedural guarantees – have largely not been met, significantly undermining the prospects for free, fair, and competitive elections,” Levan Natroshvili, ISFED’s new director, said as he read out the organization’s statement at a July 21 presentation of its report on pre-election environment.
“Therefore, ISFED will not observe the municipal elections with a standard observation mission and methodology,” he said, adding, “However, the organization continues to monitor and assess the ongoing political and electoral processes.”
The upcoming local elections, scheduled for October 4, will be boycotted by a group of opposition parties who say participation would normalize Georgian Dream’s rule and legitimize the disputed government, and will also lack both local and international observation, as the ruling party has not invited an ODIHR mission. It remains to be seen if the other local observers will follow ISFED’s lead.
Only 14 parties will appear on the ballot, down from 17 that had registered, less than half the 43 political forces that signed up in the 2021 local vote.
Among the opposition forces taking part are Lelo/Strong Georgia, whose leaders, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, are currently imprisoned for boycotting a Georgian Dream parliamentary body, and the For Georgia party, led by ex-Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who remains abroad facing two criminal prosecutions over his actions in 2019 as interior minister. The parties say they believe in competing even in an unfair fight and want to challenge Georgian Dream, especially in bigger cities where its support is relatively weak.
Georgian Dream, vowing to win all municipalities and mayoral posts, has already presented its list of mayoral candidates. Kakha Kaladze, the incumbent Tbilisi mayor, has been endorsed by the ruling party to seek a third term. Lelo and For Georgia have nominated a joint candidate, Irakli Kupradze, Lelo’s secretary general. Another candidate in the Tbilisi race is Zurab Makharadze, leader of the far-right Conservatives for Georgia (Alt-Info) party.
Also Read:
- 17/06/2025 – Treason or Opportunity – Opposition Squabbles over Municipal Elections
- 08/05/2025 – Interview | Levan Natroshvili, New Executive Director of ISFED
- 30/04/2025 – Local Elections: New Divisive Issue for Opposition