Setting up an environment ensuring fair elections as well as providing political unions with conditions for equal competition is of utmost importance for Georgia’s democratic development. However, some of the legislative amendments proposed by the Parliament impose severe and disproportionate limitations on the private sector, while the government is allowed broad excess to the use of administrative resources and campaigning. We voice our deep concern due to the possible restriction of the freedom of expression facing Georgian residents and the private sector. By the present statement, we urge the Georgian parliament to uphold the international standards of human rights and take into account the opinions of the civil sector (see the position of the non-governmental organizations) when discussing the amendments to the Law on Political Unions of Citizens and the Criminal Code, and adopt the legislative amendments that:

• ensure the freedom of expression of the voters as well as the private sector;
• create the environment in which political unions can compete on equal terms
• do not impose strict and disproportionate limitations on businesses, non-governmental organizations, and voters during the pre-election period
• do not allow for a broad interpretation and, subsequently, do not imperil ordinary voters and legal entities