Georgia Rejects International Election Observers for October Local Elections Amid Democratic Concerns

OSCE observers

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced Wednesday that his government will not invite observers from the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to monitor the country's local elections scheduled for October 4, 2025. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from international partners and raised fresh concerns about Georgia's democratic trajectory following widespread irregularities in last year's parliamentary elections.

Breaking with Established Practice

Speaking to journalists, Kobakhidze defended the decision by claiming it is "not standard practice" to invite OSCE/ODIHR observers for local elections, characterizing previous invitations as exceptions. However, this assertion contradicts the historical record: the OSCE has observed every local election in Georgia since 2006, with the sole exception of 2014.

"There have been exceptions, including in our case in 2021, but that was due to the fact that those elections were somehow linked to the issue of parliamentary elections," Kobakhidze said, dismissing the organization's consistent involvement in Georgian electoral processes.

The Prime Minister framed the decision as considerate, stating: "We believe that in this case, it would be excessive to burden OSCE/ODIHR with our local elections. The local self-government elections will be held in a healthy and proper manner."

International Pushback

Kobakhidze's announcement came in direct response to calls from the British Embassy in Tbilisi urging the Georgian government to extend an invitation to OSCE observers. The embassy had also pressed Georgia to implement recommendations from ODIHR's final report on the controversial 2024 parliamentary elections.

The British Embassy defended its support for Georgian civil society organizations, including voter education activities and funding for local election observation groups. "The Georgian government itself previously supported this activity and we reject its current description as funding 'propaganda and extremism'. Nothing could be further from the truth," the embassy stated.

In a pointed rebuke, the embassy emphasized that "Georgian legislation makes provision for citizen monitoring, which is an important part of professional and transparent scrutiny of elections."

Government's Broader Grievances

Kobakhidze revealed deeper tensions with international partners, particularly criticizing what he called "harmful practices" of funding Georgian civil society. He specifically targeted organizations "directly connected to the radical opposition," suggesting a broader crackdown on independent monitoring and advocacy groups.

"As for Georgia–UK cooperation, of course, we are fully open to it, but it is very important that such cooperation is built on clear principles," Kobakhidze said, while simultaneously condemning international support for Georgian democratic institutions.

The Prime Minister also dismissed the relevance of international election monitoring, noting that "OSCE/ODIHR observed the parliamentary elections and issued a report, but nobody showed any interest in that report." He accused critics of hypocrisy, claiming that "the very same people who completely ignored OSCE/ODIHR's findings are asking us to invite them again."

Shadow of 2024 Election Irregularities

The decision to exclude international observers comes against the backdrop of widespread concerns about electoral integrity in Georgia. During last October's parliamentary elections, local observers and media documented extensive irregularities that called into question the legitimacy of the results.

These documented violations included widespread breaches of voter secrecy and what local observers described as a systematic scheme whereby the ruling Georgian Dream party used the identities of Georgians living abroad to falsify votes in their favor.

Opposition Response and Electoral Boycotts

The climate of distrust has fractured Georgia's opposition over whether to participate in the October local elections at all. Several major parties and coalitions, including the Coalition for Change and the United National Movement, have announced they will boycott the vote entirely.

However, the opposition remains split on strategy. Other significant parties, including Giorgi Gakharia's For Georgia and Mamuka Khazaradze's Lelo, have not ruled out participation, creating uncertainty about the legitimacy and competitiveness of the upcoming elections.

Democratic Backsliding Concerns

The exclusion of international observers represents the latest development in what critics see as Georgia's democratic retreat under the Georgian Dream government. The move follows a pattern of restricting independent oversight and civil society operations while maintaining the façade of democratic processes.

"The hopes and aspirations of the Georgian people are for democracy and freedom," the British Embassy noted, expressing hope that international cooperation would contribute to these goals rather than undermine them.

Looking Ahead

As Georgia approaches its October local elections without international oversight, questions mount about the credibility of the electoral process and the country's commitment to democratic norms. The government's rejection of established monitoring practices, combined with documented irregularities in recent elections and opposition boycotts, suggests that the upcoming vote may further deepen the country's political crisis rather than resolve it.

The decision also risks further isolating Georgia from its Western partners at a time when the country's European integration aspirations remain officially on hold, potentially accelerating the country's drift away from democratic governance and Euro-Atlantic institutions.