(Read full article on agenda.ge)

US Senator Jim Risch says that he is disappointed by the October 2 municipal elections in Georgia.

“It is incredibly disappointing and a dramatic departure from the 2012 elections that I observed. The international community will continue to pay close attention to the conduct of the second round of elections for the races that were not yet decided,” said Risch in a recently released statement.

 He said that he is ‘troubled by extensive reports’ of intimidation and vote-buying.

“As the Georgian government organises this second round, it should address the issues highlighted by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, particularly the violence seen during the election period, and the uneven playing field for those parties challenging the ruling party. A fair and open election process is the hallmark of robust democracy,” he said.