Day: February 27, 2024
Putin’s AI threat to democracy: Russian spies ‘have developed artificial intelligence cyber-tool to spread disinformation and meddle in elections across the West’ | Daily Mail Online https://t.co/cwDF7wzT59
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) February 28, 2024
Published: 21:54 GMT, 27 February 2024 | Updated: 22:09 GMT, 27 February 2024
Ukraine accused Russia of developing an AI tool that allows Moscow to meddle in Western elections by spreading disinformation.
Oleksiy Danilov, Ukraine’s national security advisor, told The Times that AI tools have allowed Russia to push its disinformation campaigns to new heights, and that the Kremlin has heavily invested in AI.
He said: ‘Artificial intelligence is a huge step forward for Russia and it makes the impact [of their meddling] exponentially greater.’
Danilov said that just ‘two or three’ agents had the ability to create ‘tens of thousands’ of realistic, but fake, social media accounts on Telegram, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
He added that Russia’s spying operations against Ukraine were now spreading up to 166 million disinformation posts on social media platforms every single week.
Of this enormous figure, 36 million were aimed at discrediting senior Ukrainian officials, 23.5 million tried to sow political and military disfunction, 51 million attempted to demoralise the army, and a further 55 million tried to demoralise the public.
Ukraine accused Russia on Tuesday of waging a large-scale ‘disinformation’ campaign to divide its Western allies
Ukraine alleged Russia was spreading fake information online in a bid to disrupt Ukraine’s mobilisation drive
‘The international goal of the Russians is to reduce support for our country from the pro-Ukrainian coalition in the world,’ Ukraine’s intelligence service said
He added that Russian spies were also trying to hurt Ukraine’s ability to gather crucial military aid from Western partners.
Kyiv has become increasingly frustrated with hold-ups to Western aid in recent months, warning it has lost ground to Russia due to ammunition shortages.
‘The international goal of the Russians is to reduce support for our country from the pro-Ukrainian coalition in the world,’ Ukraine’s intelligence service said.
It alleged Russia was spreading fake information online in a bid to disrupt Ukraine’s mobilisation drive, question Kyiv’s ability to win and promote the idea the West was ‘fatigued’.
‘Russian special services have extensive experience in conducting hybrid wars. They spend no less on information attacks against Ukraine than on conventional warfare,’ it added.
It said Russia had budgeted $1.5 billion (£1.2 billion) for its disinformation campaign, including almost $250 million spent on ‘anti-Ukrainian sentiment’ on the Telegram messaging app.
It also accused the Kremlin of trying to sow distrust in Ukraine’s public officials and question President Volodymyr Zelensky’s five-year mandate, set to expire in May.
‘According to the enemy’s plan, in the first half of June, the situation in our country will be shaken and then, taking advantage of the situation, Ukraine will be defeated militarily in the East, which is the key idea of their operation,’ it said.
Faced with shortages of ammunition and manpower on the battlefield, the Ukrainian army has suffered mounting difficulties across the frontline.
It has withdrawn from a string of towns on the eastern front in the past three months, including the major industrial hub of Avdiivka earlier in February.
While EU leaders have overcome long-running opposition from Hungary to agree more aid, support from Kyiv’s biggest ally Washington has been held up due to infighting in Congress.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy answers media questions during his press conference in Kyiv
Ukrainian gunner Vasyl Zozulia removes a smoking shell casing after firing the gun
Ukrainian servicemen visit an exhibition displaying destroyed Russian military vehicles
It comes hours after the Kremlin warned that conflict between Russia and NATO would be inevitable if European members sent troops to fight in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday that European nations have not ruled out putting boots on the ground.
He said that nothing should be excluded as the West looked for a strategy to counter Russia, which controls just under a fifth of territory recognised as Ukraine.
‘We will do everything that we must so that Russia does not win,’ Macron added.
‘The very fact of discussing the possibility of sending certain contingents to Ukraine from NATO countries is a very important new element,’ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when questioned about Macron’s remarks.
Asked about the risks if NATO members sent their troops to fight in Ukraine, Peskov said: ‘In that case, we would need to talk not about the probability, but about the inevitability (of a direct conflict).’
Peskov said that the West should ask themselves if such a scenario was in the interests of their countries and their peoples.
DUBAI —
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and met the kingdom’s powerful crown prince to push for a peace plan and the return of prisoners of war from Russia.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has sought to position himself as a potential mediator to end the war between Ukraine and Russia — even as Riyadh remains closely aligned with Russia on energy policies through the OPEC+ group of countries. The day before, the prince hosted Vyacheslav Volodin, the chairman of Russia’s Duma, the lower house of its parliament, and a host of other Russian officials.
Zelensky’s trip came as Kyiv’s forces were slowly being pushed back in eastern Ukraine. Russia has gained the initiative due to its big advantage in troop numbers and weapon supplies, military analysts say, as Kyiv waits for news of new provisions from its Western partners.
The Ukrainian military said Tuesday it withdrew its forces from two more villages near Avdiivka in the eastern Donetsk region following intense overnight fighting, according to a Ukrainian army spokesman.
Ukrainian troops pulled back from Sieverne and Stepove, Dmytro Lykhovyi said on national television. The two villages had a population of some 100 people in total before the full-scale invasion, he said.
Ukraine continues to “rely on Saudi Arabia’s ongoing active support” in pushing forward with what has been described as a “peace formula” to end the war, which marked its second anniversary over the weekend, Zelensky said in a message on X, formerly Twitter.
Zelensky has presented a 10-point peace formula that, among other things, seeks the expulsion of all Russian forces from Ukraine and accountability for war crimes — at a time when the two sides are fighting from largely static positions along a roughly 930-mile front line. Such ideas are rejected out of hand by Moscow.
“The second topic is the return of POWs and deportees,” Zelensky wrote. “The kingdom’s leadership has already contributed to the release of our people. I am confident that this meeting will also yield results.” He also said economic cooperation would be discussed.
The state-run Saudi Press Agency said that Zelenskky arrived at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and was met by government officials. Later footage showed Zelensky along with top officials in his government meeting with a smiling Prince Mohammed. Also on hand was Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz.
Footage showed the prince and Zelensky, both of whom speak English, talking without translators in a vast hall at a palace as other officials sat nearby.
Over the last several years, Crown Prince Mohammed has reached a detente with Iran, pursued a peace deal with Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and also offered himself as a leader in other crises worldwide. That’s after facing widespread international condemnation for the Saudi-led war in Yemen and the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, which U.S. intelligence agencies believe was carried out on his orders.
Neither Saudi Arabia nor Ukraine immediately offered a detailed readout of the leaders’ discussions. On Monday, the kingdom described Prince Mohammed discussing “issues of common interest” with the Russian Duma leader.
“Volodin relayed the greeting and good wishes from Russian President Vladimir Putin,” Russia’s state-run Tass news agency said.
In May, Zelensky traveled to Saudi Arabia for a meeting of Arab leaders and also met then with Crown Prince Mohammed. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar — all neighbors on the Arabian Peninsula — have been involved in prisoner exchanges since the war broke out in 2022.
Associated Press writer Susie Blann in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report.
Accuses Baku of Disregarding Human Rights Norms and Stoking Conflict
Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Tuesday said that Armenia is ready to sign an non-aggression pact with Azerbaijan before the ratification of a peace treaty, talks for which are scheduled later this week in Berlin. He also accused Baku of disregarding international human rights norms and continuing the fan the flames of conflict.
Speaking at the annual United Nations Disarmament Conference in Geneva, Mirzoyan proposed to sign a bilateral arms control mechanism and non-aggression pact ahead of the peace treaty “in case the signing of the latter requires additional time to reach a consensus.”
“Armenia is well familiar with the devastating impact of conflict, having experienced the tragic consequences of wars in our recent history. This painful past motivates us to persistently advocate for peaceful resolution of conflicts, prevention of the use or threat of force, uncontrolled and mass acquisition of weaponry and disarmament,” Mirzoyan said.
“The erosion of the arms control regimes does not happen in a vacuum. It is usually a consequence of years-long noncompliance to the main treaties and documents, as well as the negligence of such crucial principles of the UN Charter as the non-use of force or threat of use of force and the maintenance of international peace and security and good-neighborly relations. The international failures of identifying early warning signs of such violations usually evolve into bloody conflicts and hostilities,” the foreign minister added.
He emphasized that continued disregard for international norms led to the 2020 Artsakh War, and continued as Azerbaijan invaded Armenia’s sovereign territory, and, finally in September of last year launched an attack on Artsakh that forced the Armenian population there to flee to Armenia. Mirzoyan accused Azerbaijan of an ethnic cleansing campaign that went generally unpunished by the international community.
“We have proposed simultaneous withdrawal of troops from the Armenia-Azerbaijan interstate border, with further demilitarization of the bordering areas. Armenia also is proposing to sign a bilateral arms control mechanism and non-aggression pact ahead of the peace treaty in case the signing of the latter requires additional time to reach a consensus. Despite the fact that all these proposals have so far been ignored or rejected by Azerbaijan, we are determined to continue our efforts,” Mirzoyan said.
He also spoke at the United Nations Human Rights Council, where he accused Azerbaijan of violating international norms and also derided world leaders for failing to properly condemn the Azerbaijan’s aggression against Armenia and Artsakh.
“We have been witnessing such a policy of Azerbaijan since the 80s of last century. In fact, today, we commemorate the victims of Sumgait pogroms. Together with similar acts in Baku, Kirovabad and other Armenian-populated cities of Azerbaijan, around 360 thousand Armenians were forced to flee their homes, deprived of all their rights, including the right to property, and find refuge in Armenia. Earlier, due to the same-style implemented policy, Armenians left their homes in Nakhichevan,” Mirzoyan told the UN HRC.
“In the case of Nagorno-Karabakh, there was no shortage of early warning signs of the looming atrocities. The list includes statements from the UN Secretary-General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, Orders of ICJ, public communications of UN Special Procedure Mandate Holders,” explained Mirzoyan.
“However, this was not enough for the international community, and I quote the Secretary General again, ‘to stand on the right side of history, to stand up for human rights.’ Approximately 145.000 people were forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh and relocated to Armenia between 2020 and 2023,” he emphasized.
“There are more than thousand missing persons and enforced disappearances on the Armenian side from the wars of the 1990s and 2020. We have 23 prisoners of war and other detainees in Azerbaijan. We have an immense risk of destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage that the UN Special Rapporteur has recently warned: ‘may amount to cultural cleansing,’” Mirzoyan pointed out.
“There is continuous bellicose rhetoric and military escalation provoked by Azerbaijan following earlier incursions into the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia. The impunity of the illegal use of force resulted in new territorial claims against Armenia. Nowadays, the whole territory of the Republic of Armenia is presented as so-called ‘Western Azerbaijan,’ which was invented with a pure intention to keep tension in the region,” he added, underscoring that February 27 marked the beginning of the 1988 Azerbaijani pogroms of Armenians in Sumgait.
On February 27, the coalition of twelve civil society organizations presented a detailed vision for the implementation of the nine steps defined by the European Commission for Georgia to move to the next stage of the EU integration process and start accession talks.
The organizations that worked on this long document under the leadership of the Civil Society Foundation (CSF) include Georgia’s Reforms Associates (GRASS), Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS), International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Democracy Research Institute (DRI), Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), Social Justice Center (SJC), Court Watch, Governance Monitoring Center (GMC), Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), Sapari, Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI).
Each steps incudes concrete measures to be taken, including in the executive and legislative direction.
Step 1: Countering the disinformation targeting the EU and its values; countering external information manipulation and interference
The document recommends the government to conduct a proactive campaign about the European Union and its values. It also calls on the government dispel misinformation, such as the notion that the West is trying to open a “second front” against Russia in Georgia.
The CSOs noted that strategic communications departments within the government administration and other state agencies must strive to achieve the goal established by the Georgian government’s decision in 2018 when they were established, which is to reduce the impact of anti-Western propaganda and increase public awareness about the country’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
According to the CSOs, both the government administration and the strategic communications departments in the ministries should regularly and proactively inform the public about their action plans and the progress made in implementing them.
The CSOs’ also suggests that the government create a cooperative environment with experienced anti-disinformation civil society organizations, take principled decisions against disinformation, protect the 2024 elections from Russian information interference, promote Euro-Atlantic integration, ensure transparency in the finances of political groups that openly declare their goal of cooperation with Russia, raise awareness among public servants, and promote media literacy.
The CSOs urge the government to stop the “political instrumentalization of homophobia,” which is aimed at discrediting the West by using religious and traditional sentiments. Also, according to the CSOs’ vision, “the government must stop indirectly or directly supporting violent homophobic groups.”
Among other issues, in their recommendations to the legislative branch of the government, the CSOs urge the Georgian Parliament to establish an investigative commission to examine the coordinated and inauthentic networks linked to the Strategic Communications Department of the Government of Georgia, which were reported by Meta.
Step 2: Improvement of alignment with EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy
The document presents a strategic approach for Georgia to align its foreign and security policies more closely with those of the European Union. It emphasizes the importance of supporting the EU decisions and declarations, continuing to share EU positions at international fora, and collaborating with the EU to combat hybrid threats and prevent sanctions circumvention. The CSOs recommend the government to continue to use preventive and if necessary, effective measures against the use of the Georgian soil for evading the sanctions imposed against the Russian Federation.
The CSOs urge the Georgian Government to refrain from actions and statements that contradict EU positions, and to avoid deepening cooperation with countries identified as EU systemic rivals. Additionally, the document advises against promoting economic cooperation with Russia and further developing transport links with the country. It also encourages Georgia’s active participation in EU security and defense policy missions and operations.
Step 3: Decreasing polarization, including through engaging parliamentary opposition in the legislative process, especially on EU-related legislation
The CSOs emphasize the importance of ending heated rhetoric between the opposition and the ruling party, lowering the electoral threshold, distributing power in Parliament, and electing CEC members by a qualified majority. The CSOs’ vision also calls for cooperation in Parliament, allowing the opposition to use parliamentary levers effectively, and stopping polarization and violence against political opponents.
The document urges an end to confrontational actions against civil society and the media. Also, according to the CSOs’ vision, the ruling Georgian Dream party party should end their boycott of critical television programs and debates, and resume cooperation with critical media. Likewise, the CSOs also call for the resumption of cooperation between the pro-government televisions and opposition representatives.
CSOs also call for the promotion of the political culture of multi-party dialogue and coalition governance within local self-government bodies.
Step 4: Ensuring a free, legitimate, and competitive election process, especially in 2024, and implementing OSCE/ODIHR recommendations. Completion of reforms long before the election day, including the adequate representation of the voters
The CSOs call on the government to ensure free, fair, and competitive parliamentary elections in Georgia by adhering to international standards, completing the relevant constitutional amendments, separating the ruling party from the state, rejecting voter intimidation and bribing, investigating election violations and punishing the perpetrators, transparently implementing electronic voting, and considering relevant electoral reform recommendations including by ODIHR/OSCE and the Venice Commission.
The CSOs call for the continuation of the investigation initiated in July 2022 by the General Prosecutor’s Office concerning election violations. They urge for transparency in informing the public about the progress of the investigation and for holding the perpetrators responsible.
According to the CSOs, it is imperative to implement safe, reliable, and accessible procedures to ensure a smooth voting experience for emigrants. The CSOs say that both the election administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia should create appropriate guarantees to facilitate the realization of the electoral rights of emigrants, which includes providing them with the relevant information.
The CSOs also stress the importance of the CEC Chairperson and members’ election process and highlight the Venice Commission’s recommendation to return the right to nominate CEC members to the President for political neutrality.
Step 5: Further improvement in the implementation of parliamentary oversight, especially in the security sector. Ensuring institutional independence and neutrality of key institutions, especially the Central Elections Commission, National Bank, and Communications Commission.
The CSOs emphasize the need for effective implementation of parliamentary oversight mechanisms, urging the parliamentary majority to refrain from hindering opposition’s use of control mechanisms, such as temporary investigative commissions, through procedural sabotage.
CSOs also present recommendations for the independence of the National Bank and the Communications Commission. They advocate for the National Bank to be fully staffed with independent and competent individuals as soon as possible, and they call for the revocation of the rule allowing exceptions in the execution of financial sanctions imposed by the EU, US, and UK, adopted after the United States sanctioned the former Prosecutor General of Georgia, Otar Partskhaladze.
Regarding the National Communications Commission, CSOs suggest changing the procedure for electing its members to ensure broad political and public engagement, and the Commission’s independence.
Step 6: Completion of a holistic and effective judicial reform, including the comprehensive reform of the High Council of Justice and the Prosecutor’s Office, through the implementation of Venice Commission recommendations and a transparent and inclusive process.
The CSOs recommend leading a broad, inclusive, and cross-party consensus-based process for judicial reform. They propose the creation of a mechanism for assessing the integrity of candidates and elected individuals in various leadership positions, including members of the High Council of Justice and judges of the Supreme Court, with the involvement of international experts.
According to the CSOs, this mechanism should be developed in consultation with the European Commission and the Venice Commission, taking into account best practices in the region. Additionally, they suggest establishing a system for permanent and periodic verification of property status declarations, with the oversight and advisory role of international experts.
The CSOs also call for a comprehensive analysis of previous reforms and current challenges in the justice system to inform the planning of future reforms. They also recommend developing a judicial reform strategy and action plan that addresses the main challenges and strategic issues in the justice system.
Step 7: Further ensuring the effectiveness, institutional independence, and neutrality of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Special Investigative Service, and Personal Data Protection Service. Implementation of the recommendations by the Venice Commission through the inclusive process; creation of a strong track record of fighting corruption and investigating organized crime
The CSOs recommend several measures to enhance the effectiveness and independence of key anti-corruption and investigative bodies in Georgia. These include ensuring the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s independence and authority to investigate corruption cases, electing its chief by the Parliament with a large majority, and elaborating a new anti-corruption strategy.
Similarly, the Special Investigative Service and the Personal Data Protection Service should have their institutional independence strengthened, selection procedures for their heads changed, and their mandates and powers refined.
Step 8: Improvement of the existing action plan of de-oligarchization through the multi-sector systemic approach, in accordance with the Venice Commission recommendations and through the transparent and inclusive process, with engagement of the opposition parties and civil society
In the document, the emphasis is on a systematic approach to de-oligarchization, in line with the Venice Commission’s recommendations. This includes ensuring the impartiality, independence, and effectiveness of key institutions involved in the process.
The CSOs call for refining the existing action plan based on feedback from the European Union and the Venice Commission, as well as input from the opposition and civil society. Timely legislative changes and administrative measures are deemed crucial, as well as the effective implementation of these measures, including in investigating high-level corruption cases. The monitoring of the action plan’s execution is also deemed essential, with a focus on periodic, transparent, and effective reporting.
Step 9: Improvement of human rights protection, including through the implementation of the ambitious strategy and through ensuring the freedom of assembly and expression.
The CSOs recommend the revision of the National Human Rights Protection Strategy and Action Plan through broad consultations with civil society, academia and the opposition, taking into account the main issues raised by the Public Defender, civil society and relevant international organizations.
CSOs’ recommendations focus on improving the legal state of civil society and ensuring privacy, equality, and freedom of assembly and expression. Additionally, among other issues, the recommendations also emphasize the importance of addressing discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, and religion, as well as ensuring the protection of minority rights and the prevention of hate crimes.
The recommendations also call for the strengthening of the Public Defender’s mandate, the implementation of anti-discrimination policies, and the protection of journalists and media freedom.
CSOs urge the government to address ultra-right radical groups and prevent violence, develop and implement state services for victims of hate crimes, adopt a strategy to combat discrimination and hate, and conduct thorough investigations into the violence on July 5, 2021, and July 8, 2023, punishing the organizers and perpetrators taking into account the evidence from the media, civil society, and the Public Defender.
Also Read:
On February 27, the coalition of twelve civil society organizations presented a detailed vision for the implementation of the nine steps defined by the European Commission for Georgia to move to the next stage of the EU integration process and start accession talks.
The organizations that worked on this long document under the leadership of the Civil Society Foundation (CSF) include Georgia’s Reforms Associates (GRASS), Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS), International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Democracy Research Institute (DRI), Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), Social Justice Center (SJC), Court Watch, Governance Monitoring Center (GMC), Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), Sapari, Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI).
Each steps incudes concrete measures to be taken, including in the executive and legislative direction.
Step 1: Countering the disinformation targeting the EU and its values; countering external information manipulation and interference
The document recommends the government to conduct a proactive campaign about the European Union and its values. It also calls on the government dispel misinformation, such as the notion that the West is trying to open a “second front” against Russia in Georgia.
The CSOs noted that strategic communications departments within the government administration and other state agencies must strive to achieve the goal established by the Georgian government’s decision in 2018 when they were established, which is to reduce the impact of anti-Western propaganda and increase public awareness about the country’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
According to the CSOs, both the government administration and the strategic communications departments in the ministries should regularly and proactively inform the public about their action plans and the progress made in implementing them.
The CSOs’ also suggests that the government create a cooperative environment with experienced anti-disinformation civil society organizations, take principled decisions against disinformation, protect the 2024 elections from Russian information interference, promote Euro-Atlantic integration, ensure transparency in the finances of political groups that openly declare their goal of cooperation with Russia, raise awareness among public servants, and promote media literacy.
The CSOs urge the government to stop the “political instrumentalization of homophobia,” which is aimed at discrediting the West by using religious and traditional sentiments. Also, according to the CSOs’ vision, “the government must stop indirectly or directly supporting violent homophobic groups.”
Among other issues, in their recommendations to the legislative branch of the government, the CSOs urge the Georgian Parliament to establish an investigative commission to examine the coordinated and inauthentic networks linked to the Strategic Communications Department of the Government of Georgia, which were reported by Meta.
Step 2: Improvement of alignment with EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy
The document presents a strategic approach for Georgia to align its foreign and security policies more closely with those of the European Union. It emphasizes the importance of supporting the EU decisions and declarations, continuing to share EU positions at international fora, and collaborating with the EU to combat hybrid threats and prevent sanctions circumvention. The CSOs recommend the government to continue to use preventive and if necessary, effective measures against the use of the Georgian soil for evading the sanctions imposed against the Russian Federation.
The CSOs urge the Georgian Government to refrain from actions and statements that contradict EU positions, and to avoid deepening cooperation with countries identified as EU systemic rivals. Additionally, the document advises against promoting economic cooperation with Russia and further developing transport links with the country. It also encourages Georgia’s active participation in EU security and defense policy missions and operations.
Step 3: Decreasing polarization, including through engaging parliamentary opposition in the legislative process, especially on EU-related legislation
The CSOs emphasize the importance of ending heated rhetoric between the opposition and the ruling party, lowering the electoral threshold, distributing power in Parliament, and electing CEC members by a qualified majority. The CSOs’ vision also calls for cooperation in Parliament, allowing the opposition to use parliamentary levers effectively, and stopping polarization and violence against political opponents.
The document urges an end to confrontational actions against civil society and the media. Also, according to the CSOs’ vision, the ruling Georgian Dream party party should end their boycott of critical television programs and debates, and resume cooperation with critical media. Likewise, the CSOs also call for the resumption of cooperation between the pro-government televisions and opposition representatives.
CSOs also call for the promotion of the political culture of multi-party dialogue and coalition governance within local self-government bodies.
Step 4: Ensuring a free, legitimate, and competitive election process, especially in 2024, and implementing OSCE/ODIHR recommendations. Completion of reforms long before the election day, including the adequate representation of the voters
The CSOs call on the government to ensure free, fair, and competitive parliamentary elections in Georgia by adhering to international standards, completing the relevant constitutional amendments, separating the ruling party from the state, rejecting voter intimidation and bribing, investigating election violations and punishing the perpetrators, transparently implementing electronic voting, and considering relevant electoral reform recommendations including by ODIHR/OSCE and the Venice Commission.
The CSOs call for the continuation of the investigation initiated in July 2022 by the General Prosecutor’s Office concerning election violations. They urge for transparency in informing the public about the progress of the investigation and for holding the perpetrators responsible.
According to the CSOs, it is imperative to implement safe, reliable, and accessible procedures to ensure a smooth voting experience for emigrants. The CSOs say that both the election administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia should create appropriate guarantees to facilitate the realization of the electoral rights of emigrants, which includes providing them with the relevant information.
The CSOs also stress the importance of the CEC Chairperson and members’ election process and highlight the Venice Commission’s recommendation to return the right to nominate CEC members to the President for political neutrality.
Step 5: Further improvement in the implementation of parliamentary oversight, especially in the security sector. Ensuring institutional independence and neutrality of key institutions, especially the Central Elections Commission, National Bank, and Communications Commission.
The CSOs emphasize the need for effective implementation of parliamentary oversight mechanisms, urging the parliamentary majority to refrain from hindering opposition’s use of control mechanisms, such as temporary investigative commissions, through procedural sabotage.
CSOs also present recommendations for the independence of the National Bank and the Communications Commission. They advocate for the National Bank to be fully staffed with independent and competent individuals as soon as possible, and they call for the revocation of the rule allowing exceptions in the execution of financial sanctions imposed by the EU, US, and UK, adopted after the United States sanctioned the former Prosecutor General of Georgia, Otar Partskhaladze.
Regarding the National Communications Commission, CSOs suggest changing the procedure for electing its members to ensure broad political and public engagement, and the Commission’s independence.
Step 6: Completion of a holistic and effective judicial reform, including the comprehensive reform of the High Council of Justice and the Prosecutor’s Office, through the implementation of Venice Commission recommendations and a transparent and inclusive process.
The CSOs recommend leading a broad, inclusive, and cross-party consensus-based process for judicial reform. They propose the creation of a mechanism for assessing the integrity of candidates and elected individuals in various leadership positions, including members of the High Council of Justice and judges of the Supreme Court, with the involvement of international experts.
According to the CSOs, this mechanism should be developed in consultation with the European Commission and the Venice Commission, taking into account best practices in the region. Additionally, they suggest establishing a system for permanent and periodic verification of property status declarations, with the oversight and advisory role of international experts.
The CSOs also call for a comprehensive analysis of previous reforms and current challenges in the justice system to inform the planning of future reforms. They also recommend developing a judicial reform strategy and action plan that addresses the main challenges and strategic issues in the justice system.
Step 7: Further ensuring the effectiveness, institutional independence, and neutrality of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Special Investigative Service, and Personal Data Protection Service. Implementation of the recommendations by the Venice Commission through the inclusive process; creation of a strong track record of fighting corruption and investigating organized crime
The CSOs recommend several measures to enhance the effectiveness and independence of key anti-corruption and investigative bodies in Georgia. These include ensuring the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s independence and authority to investigate corruption cases, electing its chief by the Parliament with a large majority, and elaborating a new anti-corruption strategy.
Similarly, the Special Investigative Service and the Personal Data Protection Service should have their institutional independence strengthened, selection procedures for their heads changed, and their mandates and powers refined.
Step 8: Improvement of the existing action plan of de-oligarchization through the multi-sector systemic approach, in accordance with the Venice Commission recommendations and through the transparent and inclusive process, with engagement of the opposition parties and civil society
In the document, the emphasis is on a systematic approach to de-oligarchization, in line with the Venice Commission’s recommendations. This includes ensuring the impartiality, independence, and effectiveness of key institutions involved in the process.
The CSOs call for refining the existing action plan based on feedback from the European Union and the Venice Commission, as well as input from the opposition and civil society. Timely legislative changes and administrative measures are deemed crucial, as well as the effective implementation of these measures, including in investigating high-level corruption cases. The monitoring of the action plan’s execution is also deemed essential, with a focus on periodic, transparent, and effective reporting.
Step 9: Improvement of human rights protection, including through the implementation of the ambitious strategy and through ensuring the freedom of assembly and expression.
The CSOs recommend the revision of the National Human Rights Protection Strategy and Action Plan through broad consultations with civil society, academia and the opposition, taking into account the main issues raised by the Public Defender, civil society and relevant international organizations.
CSOs’ recommendations focus on improving the legal state of civil society and ensuring privacy, equality, and freedom of assembly and expression. Additionally, among other issues, the recommendations also emphasize the importance of addressing discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, and religion, as well as ensuring the protection of minority rights and the prevention of hate crimes.
The recommendations also call for the strengthening of the Public Defender’s mandate, the implementation of anti-discrimination policies, and the protection of journalists and media freedom.
CSOs urge the government to address ultra-right radical groups and prevent violence, develop and implement state services for victims of hate crimes, adopt a strategy to combat discrimination and hate, and conduct thorough investigations into the violence on July 5, 2021, and July 8, 2023, punishing the organizers and perpetrators taking into account the evidence from the media, civil society, and the Public Defender.
Also Read: