Statements

The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), and Transparency International - Georgia (TI) express their concern regarding recent violations in the pre-election monitoring process. According to information reported in the media, several instances of illegal processing of voters' personal data and the confiscation of identity cards have been recorded.

It is particularly alarming that the activists of the ruling party are asking some voters/persons employed with budgetary funding (as well as certain individuals employed with budgetary funding to their subordinates) to hand over their identity documents. Obstructing the exercise of will in elections and influencing the will of the voter are crimes outlined in Articles 162 and 164⁴ of the Criminal Code of Georgia, and according to Article 157 of the same Code, it is a crime to illegally obtain, store, use, distribute, or otherwise make available personal information on private life or personal data that results in considerable damage. The mentioned facts may also encompass crimes outlined in other articles of the Criminal Code. Furthermore, the collection, storage, processing, and transfer of voters' personal data is a flagrant violation of the Law of Georgia „On Personal Data Protection“. In addition, Article 49 of the Election Code of Georgia prohibits the involvement of a subordinate or otherwise dependent person in activities that contribute to the nomination and/or election of a candidate.

The organizations jointly call on law enforcement and the relevant state authorities to study, investigate, and promptly take appropriate measures regarding the publicly disseminated instances of alleged violations of the law.