France, Strasbourg, 22 January / corr Trend A.Maharramli, S.Ilhamgizi / Terry Davis, the Council of Europe Secretary General, stated that the presidential elections held in Georgia were free, but not fair. Davis made this statement at a news conference in Strasbourg on 22 January, Trend reported.
The presidential elections held in Georgia on 5 January were observed by observers from the Council of Europe, OSCE and the European Union. Mikhael Saakashvili won the elections gaining an overwhelming majority of votes.
"I can state the presidential elections in Georgia were free, but unfair. I came to this opinion after hearing a report by Matyas Eorsi the rapporteur on the Georgia PACE Monitoring Committee," Davis said.
He said that the use of administrative resources by the Georgian state power by Mikhael Saakashvili was also criticized seriously.
"Saakashvili was elected by the people of Georgia. After several months parliamentary elections will be held in Georgia. Georgia should make conclusions from the critical notes indicated in this report for holding elections in line with accepted standards," the CE Secretary said.