Bernd Vöhringer (Germany, EPP/CCE) and Stewart Dickson (United Kingdom, ILDG), co-Rapporteurs on the situation of local democracy in Georgia of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, have made the following statement:
“We deplore the fact that for the first time in decades, the Congress was not invited to observe local elections in Georgia, held on 4 October 2025.
“We deeply regret that the Georgian authorities have ignored repeated calls from the Congress to return to democratic election standards and have not implemented the recommendations of the Venice Commission concerning the legal framework for local elections and electoral administration aimed at restoring the conditions necessary for holding free and fair elections. As elected representatives ourselves we know that such conditions can only be guaranteed by the full respect of the right of freedom of expression and freedom of association and by a vibrant civil society as called for by the Human Rights Commissioner and the Parliamentary Assembly.
“We therefore urge the authorities to engage in genuine and constructive political dialogue with the opposition and civil society aimed at restoring confidence in the electoral process and strengthening governance at all levels.
“The Congress remains committed to supporting Georgia, in any way possible, in fulfilling its obligations as a member of the Council of Europe in safeguarding democracy, human rights and the rule of law at local level".
