Concerning updates are emerging from Georgia, indicating that the ruling party is gearing up to manipulate the forthcoming parliamentary elections, - this is highlighted in the declaration from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe titled "Elections in Georgia - alarming events," which has been endorsed by 24 MPs.

The declaration emphasizes that for the election results to gain international recognition, [Georgian] officials must cease their anti-democratic actions and alter their approach.

"Alarming reports are coming from Georgia, which seem to show how the ruling party is preparing to steal the upcoming parliamentary elections. This includes a massive campaign of intimidation against opposition candidates and their supporters, whose properties are looted and whose families are threatened. There were also physical attacks on opposition activists. Voters are also intimidated by the spread of false information, which calls into question the anonymity of the vote - "the government will know who you voted for, and there will be consequences." Many national watchdog groups are prevented from doing their work by abuse of anti-corruption laws even to the extent of so-called the "Foreign Agents Law" will come into force. Finally, it appears that the Central Election Commission has recently come under the control of the ruling party. Such actions created a pre-election environment in which it is very difficult to hold free and fair elections. In order to achieve international recognition of the election results, [Georgian] officials must stop acting anti-democratically and change course. The role of international election observers, including the Parliamentary Assembly, is critically important to allow the people of Georgia to freely determine their own future," the declaration states.