• According to an employee of the Special Tasks Department in Zugdidi (who disclosed these facts to our representative in a private conversation), the department is requesting them to submit lists containing personal data of family members and relatives who intend to vote for the “Georgian Dream” party, while those with opposition sympathies are being asked to hand over their identification documents.

The circumstances indicate that the confiscation of identification documents and collection of voters’ personal data has a widespread and systematic nature across the country. The involuntary confiscation of identification documents violates current legislation, including Georgia's Law “On Personal Data Protection”. Additionally, the illegal obtaining, storage, use, distribution, or other means of making personal data accessible is punishable under criminal law. This also reveals violations such as interference with voter will, breach of voting secrecy, and abuse of official authority. These facts once again confirm that the large-scale scheme of vote-buying and illegal mobilization described in the 2022 study published by “Transparency International - Georgia” and “International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy” is still actively operating. Swift, thorough, and impartial investigation of all such cases is essential.