GEORGIA: NDI on Elections & more – 29th Feb 2024

Gamarjobat from Gracia! This is the Rorshok Georgia Update from the 29th of February twenty twenty-four. A quick summary of what's going down in Georgia.

On Monday the 26th, the National Democratic Institute (or NDI) released a report criticizing recent changes to Georgia's Election Code. According to the NDI, these amendments don't match up with the advice from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the Venice Commission, and possibly shaking public trust in the Central Election Commission (or CEC) even more. The report points out that the role of CEC's deputy chairman, previously filled by an opposition party member, got cut. This, along with a high parliamentary election threshold, could make it harder to reach a political agreement and boost confidence in the CEC's fairness. The report came right before the parliamentary elections set for October.

On Tuesday the 27th, the CEC responded to the NDI's pre-election report with a statement outlining their ongoing efforts to ensure the October parliamentary elections meet international standards. They highlighted their work on integrating electronic technologies and addressing concerns raised by the NDI. The statement touched on their tech and voter education enhancements, yet specifics on tackling the bigger issues like the deputy chairman role and election threshold were left vague. The CEC emphasized its commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and ensuring the participation of marginalized groups, adapting the voting process to be more accessible. They reaffirmed their dedication to working with all stakeholders, including the NDI, to uphold democratic norms and engage the electorate ahead of the elections.

In other news, on Tuesday the 27th, Parliament Chair Shalva Papuashvili criticized the European Endowment for Democracy for funding Georgian parties, calling it election interference. He urged the EU to halt such practices to ensure fair elections, labeling any external influence, including from the EU or US, as unacceptable 'Russian style' meddling. Papuashvili also accused opposition parties of using fake NGOs for illegal foreign funding, demanding an end to such contributions to maintain election integrity.

On the next day, on Wednesday the 28th, Shalva Papuashvili made a post on Facebook highlighting Georgia's superior ranking over Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine in global ratings, criticizing the opposition and some NGOs for undermining national dignity by suggesting foreign involvement in Georgia's court system staffing.

On Tuesday the 27th, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze caught up with EU Ambassador Pawel Herczynski. They had a heart-to-heart about Georgia fitting into the EU puzzle. They reminisced about the PM's recent Brussels trip, which seems to have made everyone happy about Georgia and the EU getting along like a house on fire. They're all jazzed up about making it official and starting the membership chat, following the steps the European Commission has laid out. It's a big deal, showing they're ready to roll up their sleeves and dive into the nitty-gritty of joining the EU club.

On Monday the 26th, the US Embassy commemorated Soviet Occupation Day, highlighting the Georgian people's strong spirit for freedom and independence. The Embassy's statement honored both soldiers and civilians lost 103 years ago during the Soviet invasion, pledging continued support for Georgia on its European path. Georgian flags were flown at half-mast across government buildings, reflecting on the historical moment in nineteen twenty-one when the Red Army established the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, a memory that the country now observes annually to remember the victims of the communist regime.

Speaking of the US, on Wednesday, the 28th, Ambassador Robin Dunnigan highlighted the deep and enduring friendship between the U.S. and Georgia, emphasizing a shared commitment to freedom and democracy. Over the past thirty-two years, the U.S. has been a steadfast supporter, contributing over $6 billion dollars in aid to Georgia, fostering a partnership that has enriched both nations. Dunnigan talked about supporting Georgia's aspirations towards EU membership and ensuring democratic principles through free and fair elections.

Moving on to another friendship. On Monday the 26th, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze shared that Georgians can now zip over to China without needing a visa, and they can hang out there for up to thirty days, reciprocating last year’s Georgia's similar visa-free gesture. This step is part of a bigger friendship plan between the two countries, boosting their economic relationship.

On Tuesday the 27th, Levan Davitashvili, the Economy Minister, also talked about the visa-free regime and its perks. It's all about making trips for business or pleasure super straightforward, which is a game-changer for trade and economic ties. China's a key partner for Georgia, and going visa-free is expected to smooth out any bumps for folks heading over there, especially those looking to do business.

From China to Germany, on Thursday the 22nd, Georgia shone at the Munich Security Conference. The chat between Georgia's Foreign Minister and the Munich Conference bigwigs was all about sticking together for future projects and pushing Georgia's European dreams. Still, the Munich Report wasn't all cheers, pointing out Georgia's political slips and Russia's trouble-making, suggesting the EU and NATO should step in to help. President Zurabishvili made a strong case, saying joining the EU is not just nice-to-have but a must-do for Georgia, calling for unity against the baddies and speeding up homegrown reforms.

In healthcare news, on Tuesday the 27th, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze pledged to halt the reorganization of the Republican Hospital and build a new facility in the coming years. In the meantime, measures will be taken to maintain and improve the current hospital's infrastructure, ensuring it continues to operate at full capacity.

The Prime Minister also said that specific details about the compensation for physicians who had signed agreements would be finalized shortly in collaboration with the Health Ministry and hospital staff.

But that wasn’t the PM’s only announcement. On Monday, the 26th, Kobakhidze kicked off an initiative for young Georgians, launching a pilot program for paid internships. This program aims to benefit between 2,000 and 3,000 university grads by giving them hands-on experience in government roles for at least four months. The executive is also teaming up with local municipalities and the private sector to broaden these paid opportunities across various industries.

On Friday the 22nd, there was a big win for over 150,000 pensioners in Georgia as they're set to benefit from slashed loan interest rates. This decision, a result of talks between Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, the Acting President of the National Bank of Georgia, Natia Turnava, and Liberty Bank's General Director, Beka Gogichaishvili, will see loan interests for pensioners lowered to rates introduced in twenty twenty-three. Liberty Bank is teaming up with the National Bank to make sure this goes smoothly, aiming to ease the financial burden on the country's senior citizens.

And to close this edition, on Tuesday the 27th, Shomik Mehndiratta from the World Bank shared some news about the Middle Corridor's potential to boost jobs in the Caucasus and Kazakhstan. Highlighting the need to tackle infrastructure and operational issues quickly, he discussed how digitalization and improved border management could make the corridor a more attractive option for transporting goods. By transforming this path into an economic corridor, there's a real chance to create new job opportunities and distribution centers, leveraging the transport route to benefit local economies.

Aaaaand that’s it for this week.

Do you know that besides the Georgia Update, we also do others? Our latest ones are the Arctic Update, about the area north of the Arctic Circle, the Ocean Update, about the 70% of the earth covered in salt water, and the Multilateral update about all the world's major multilateral institutions. The other ones are all country updates, we have a selection of countries from Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe. Check rorshok.com/updates to see the full list. We left the link in the show notes as well.

Nakhvamdis!