Georgia’s October 31 parliamentary elections took place in the face of a global pandemic, significant and recent changes to the country’s electoral framework, ongoing political polarization, and tepid confidence in the incumbent legislature, - reads the report of the National Democratic Institute.

According to the report, continuing aggression from the Kremlin and escalating regional tensions also impacted electoral dynamics and shaped the political environment.

“The next test will be conducting a credible and transparent complaints adjudication process to address the serious concerns that have been raised, followed by the run-off elections, which must be conducted in a peaceful, transparent and fair environment, free from violence and intimidation. The government and election administrators will need to take urgent, visible, and sustained steps to demonstrate their commitment to such a process.

Kremlin aggression remains a central feature of Georgian politics. Russian occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and other forms of hybrid warfare aimed at thwarting Georgia’s democratic and European aspirations, are ongoing. Responding to this pressure strains and complicates Georgia’s political, social, and economic systems and requires political contestants to declare and repeatedly defend geostrategic allegiances, distracting them from other pressing issues. Moreover, the surrounding region is experiencing upheaval, including an escalating military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and ongoing protests in Belarus in the wake of a fraudulent election there in August”, - reads the report of NDI.