Petition and Legislative Proposals of NGOs and Media Organizations Forwarded to 100 International Organizations

Petition and legislative amendments of Georgian non-governmental and media organizations together with the analysis of the acting law were forwarded to 100 international and diplomatic organizations. According to the petition of Media and non-governmental organization involved in the Campaign “It Concerns You”, the packet was sent to the embassies of the US, Great Britain, Germany, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Sweden and others in Georgia.

Additionally, the petition and legislative proposals were sent to the US State Department, NATO, the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the OSCE, US Republican and Democratic Institutes, the Venice Commission, and other organizations.

The member NGOs and media organizations hope evaluations and feedbacks from the international organizations will help the process of improving the electoral environment and change electoral law in Georgia.

The NGOs and media organizations launched a campaign ‘It Concerns You’ on 13 February. They request to amend the acting electoral law. The civil society representatives prepared the petition and experts worked on the legislative proposals which were submitted to the Parliament of Georgia on February 17.

The petition which was signed by more than 200 organizations reads: Representatives of NGOs and media acknowledge the importance of fair and free elections; we consider that the legislative changes adopted in December 2011 on the issue are unacceptable. The changes restrict civil activity, right to property, freedom of expression and political activity, hinders the country’s democratic development; imposes heavy and unjustified responsibility on the voter; gives indefinite and non-constitutional rights to the chief controller of financing parties – Chamber of Control; poses a serious threat to each citizen and civil society, including media; worsens the electoral environment in the country. We request introduction of amendments into the Election Code,” the Petition reads.

Interpresnews