The U.S. government and Congress will monitor Georgia’s elections at the highest level, Dafna Rand, assistant secretary of state for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, said during a discussion organized by the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the Atlantic Council.
In her speech, Rand talked about the parliamentary elections to be held in Georgia, noting that they will be fair if there is free debate and competition between the parties.
“Georgia now has an important and broken agenda, especially after 12 years of the Georgian Dream party’s time in office. The upcoming election on Oct. 26 is very competitive. The Russian influence is noticeable, especially with the adoption of the “law on agents”, which is aimed at restricting civil society and human rights defenders. This undoubtedly causes concern both in Georgia and for the U.S. government, as it affects democratic processes and freedom,” the official said.
