Hundreds of international election observers descended on Georgia from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. The OSCE coordinator, U.S. Congressman Alcee Hastings says he has never seen so many monitors in the hundreds of elections he has observed.
| On the other hand, if they say the elections were fair, and Alcee Hastings is one of the people saying that, can we believe them? |
Speaking on behalf of the observer mission, Congressman Hastings said the Georgian presidential vote was, in essence, consistent with most OSCE and Council of Europe standards for democratic elections. "Democracy took a triumphant step because of the demonstrative competitiveness of this campaign," said Alcee Hastings. "I perceive this election as a viable expression of free choice of the Georgian people, but the future holds immense challenges."
Congressman Hastings and other monitors noted allegations of intimidation against public sector employees, diversion of state resources and media coverage in favor of the incumbent, vote buying, and other violations. |