Georgia, Tbilisi, October 25/ Trend N.Kirtzkhalia /
In order to observe the presidential election in Georgia to be held on October 27, a Council of Europe observation mission arrived in the country. It does not include the deputies of the Russian State Duma Vasily Likhachev and Sergei Kalashnikov.
As the head of the observers from the Council of Europe Marichela Mateu Pym announced on Friday, the mission is ready for election monitoring.
"Previously we visited Georgia a month ago and made sure the pre-election situation is much calmer than last year. The mission will leave the country on October 29 but before that it will hold meetings with representatives of non-governmental organisations, political parties and the public," she said.
According to her, the delegation had to include Russian parliamentarians as well, but they were unable to come to Georgia.
"We note this fact, but our duty is to monitor the elections," the head of the mission said.
PACE observers from Russia Vasily Likhachev and Sergei Kalashnikov refused to come to Georgia to participate in the election monitoring. In particular, Likhachev explained his refusal by the presence of Georgian law on the occupied territories which only allows entry into Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia by special permission.
In turn, Kalashnikov said that he was informed about the unwillingness of the Georgian authorities to receive him in the country.
Besides the Council of Europe mission, long and short term observers from OSCE with more than 200 people are already in Georgia. Also observers from the European Union and the U.S. International Republican Institute already arrived in the country. In total more than 700 international observers will observe the presidential election in Georgia.