TBILISI – The National Democratic Institute (NDI) announced today that it will conduct an assessment of the electoral and political environment in advance of Georgia's local elections, which are scheduled for October. The mission is a demonstration of the international community’s continuing support for democratic processes in Georgia and is intended to help promote public confidence in the electoral process.

Members of the delegation include Janusz Onyszkiewicz, former Minister of Defense and member of parliament in the Polish Sejm; David Kramer, former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the U.S. Department of State; Catherine Noone, deputy leader of the Irish Seanad and spokesperson on children and youth affairs; Laura Thornton, NDI senior resident country director in Georgia; Marija Babic, independent electoral expert; Melissa Muscio, NDI program director for Georgia, Turkey, and Central Asia; and Michael McNulty, NDI senior program manager for elections and political processes.

From July 17 - 21, the delegation will assess the status of electoral preparations and review the general electoral environment through a series of meetings with government officials, candidates, political party leaders, election authorities, members of the media, and representatives of civil society and the international community. The NDI mission will conduct its activities in a nonpartisan, professional manner, in accordance with Georgian law and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation.

At a concluding press conference on July 21, the delegation will release a statement highlighting its findings and offering recommendations to strengthen the integrity of the elections. No comments will be made prior to the press conference.

The observation delegation is supported by funding from the National Endowment for Democracy and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

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NDI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government. The Institute has been working in Georgia since 1994 to support the development of the parliament, political parties and civil society.

For more information about NDI and its programs, please visit www.ndi.org.