“We have repeatedly pointed out that the refusal of the OSCE/ODIHR, followed by their justification that they could not assemble observers, is nothing but a pretext. We remember the case when Saakashvili’s presidential elections were held, and within one month they managed to assemble a mission. A similar situation is happening now in the Czech Republic, where an observer mission is being formed within the same timeframe. It may take just a few days, perhaps a week, but they still manage,” said Levan Machavariani, First Deputy Chairman of the Georgian Dream faction and head of the Tbilisi election headquarters, commenting on the refusal of the OSCE/ODIHR to observe Georgia’s municipal elections.
According to Machavariani, on the one hand, the organization does not want to damage its reputation with an incorrect conclusion, and on the other hand, if they publish a genuine report, it will again confirm that the elections were conducted at a high level, which would bring about serious political pressure.

“We have repeatedly emphasized that the refusal of the OSCE/ODIHR and their subsequent justification that they could not assemble observers is just a pretext. We remember the case in Georgia’s history when Saakashvili’s presidential elections were held, and within one month they managed to assemble a mission. A similar situation is unfolding now in the Czech Republic, where an observer mission is being formed within the same timeframe.
This may take just a few days, perhaps a week — but they still manage. Accordingly, all of this is only a pretext, since unprecedented pressure was exerted on the OSCE/ODIHR after they published the final report on the 2024 parliamentary elections. In that report, they reflected the will of our voters, noted that the elections were competitive, the Central Election Commission carried out the administration at a very high level, and Georgia has an elected government.
After that, the OSCE/ODIHR became the target of bullying, and naturally, they do not want a repeat of this. On the one hand, they do not want to harm their reputation by writing an incorrect conclusion, and on the other — if they write a genuine conclusion, it will again confirm that the elections were conducted at a very high level. They know very well what kind of bullying would follow from the Euro-bureaucrats, and that is exactly why they avoid all of this. And this is nothing but a pretext on their part,” Machavariani said.