These elections were found to be competitive and freedoms were respected overall, despite deplorable cases of pressure on voters and blurring of the line between the ruling party and the State throughout the campaign and on election day - reads the statement of joint statement by leading MEPs on EU-Georgia relations released yesterday.
MEPs congratulate Georgia, a key ally of the EU, on "successfully organising the first round of the parliamentary elections despite a difficult epidemiological context".
MEPs call on the consideration of the issue of campaign financing needs to be further addressed in line with long-standing OSCE/ODIHR recommendations.
"Today, following the first round and ahead of the second round, we call for calm - read the statement - All possible appeals and complaints, substantiated with necessary details and some element of proof, should be handled in a fair, transparent and rigorous manner".
