The First Vice Speaker of the Parliament suggested that the OSCE/ODIHR’s decision to decline Georgia`s invitation to observe the October 4 local self-government elections may stem from external pressures to avoid issuing another positive assessment of the country’s electoral process.

"History does not recall such pressure and bullying since the OSCE/ODIHR observed [the 2024parliamentary] elections in Georgia and issued a positive conclusion. There are assumptions that they wanted to avoid such potential escalation.

The organisation`s positive conclusion following Georgia`s 2024 parliamentary elections was followed by the unprecedented pressure and bullying…

It may not suit some that a normal, European-standard observer invited by the state is present in Georgia, which would create the precondition for another positive conclusion to be published regarding the conducted elections", - said Gia Volski.