Even though international election monitors from the OSCE/ODIHR concluded that yesterday’s presidential election vote was “broadly democratic” and “the first genuinely competitive presidential election in the country, enabling the Georgian people to express their political choice,” TOL Georgia has since read the much longer preliminary report.

Compared to the earlier statement read out at today’s press conference, the “significant challenges which need to be addressed” are actually quite alarming.

“The distribution of vouchers for such things as utilities and medical supplies to vulnerable groups was criticized as an alleged misuse of budgetary funds in support of Mr. Saakashvili.”

“The vouchers prominently displayed that they were a subsidy from the President. Healthcare vouchers, as well as employment scheme leaflets, featured visually outstanding number “5”s – the number on the ballot under which the UNM has run in elections since 2004. Distributors of vouchers sometimes asked recipients whether they would vote for Mr. Saakashvili, and asked them to sign documents confirming their support. Vouchers were in some cases distributed from UNM offices.”

[…]

“The campaign was overshadowed by widespread allegations of intimidation and pressure, among others on public-sector employees. These included a number of confirmed cases of pressure on opposition supporters by the police and local officials to desist from campaigning, threats of arbitrary arrest or job dismissal and cases of landlords who were pressurized not to let premises for use as opposition campaign offices. Isolated instances of violence against opposition activists, including kidnapping, were reported and verified.

“A debate between the four main contestants did not take place as Mr. Saakashvili chose not to take part and his three main rivals conditioned their participation upon the opportunity to debate with him.”

[..]

“In addition, observers found CEC-produced stickers with the text “Where will you be on 5 January?”, with the “5” in a red circle visually resembling that used on Mr. Saakashvili’s campaign materials.”

If such an election has met with very little condemnation from the international community, the opposition here should be very alarmed what this might mean for the conduct of next month’s presidential election in Armenia. No wonder that TOL Georgia has to question what exactly international monitors were meant to be monitoring.

OK, maybe I read something wrong, or misunderstood the whole paradoxical nature of the report which goes “in line with the European values”, but if in any EU country the elections are conducted in such a manner — where media is biased, the votes are miscounted and different opinion is countered with intimidation and kidnapping, then…

Saakashvili came to power with vision and ideals that would move even the most pristine democrats. Now intimidation, threats, biased media, elections irregularities, misuse of state funds seem to have secondary value. Free and fair, is a slogan that must be backed with facts, not evaluations.

Sad. Very sad, and it would appear that there is every reason for the opposition to protest against the official results of the election. Even in Armenia I’ve never seen a preliminary report quite like this one. Indeed, if such a report were to be issued here it would actually mark regression and not progress in terms of democratization. I’m speechless, shocked and very disappointed.