26/10/2011 - 27/10/2011
Tbilisi - A delegation of the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe’s advisory body of independent legal experts, together with experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) will be in Georgia on 26 and 27 October 2011 to exchange views with national authorities and other stakeholders on the new draft Electoral Code of Georgia.
The request for opinion came from the Deputy Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Mihaïl Machavariani on 12 September 2011.
The delegation will meet with members of parliament, representatives of the opposition and civil society as well as with the representatives of the international community present in Georgia.
The delegation is composed of:
• for the Venice Commission:
Mr Manuel González Oropeza – substitute member, Mexico
Mr Thomas Markert – Director, Secretary of the Venice Commission
Mr Gael Martin-Micallef – Elections Project officer, Division of Elections and Referendums, Secretariat of the Venice Commission;
• for the OSCE/ODIHR:
Mr Armin Rabitsch, Senior Election Advisor
Following this visit, a draft opinion (prepared jointly by rapporteurs of the Venice Commission and experts of the OSCE/ODIHR) will be finalised and submitted to the Venice Commission for possible adoption at its December 2011 plenary session.
A press briefing is scheduled on 27 October 2011 between 13h45 and 14h15 at the Parliament. Press contact:In Tbilisi: George JASHI, Advisor to the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia
Tel.: + 995 32 2 91 38 70 / 71/ 72/ 73
In Strasbourg: Tatiana MYCHELOVA, External Relations Officer, Venice Commission
Office: +33 388 41 3868; mob. +33676720402; email: tatiana.mychelova@coe.int