In response to Anastasia's email asking for more information about Georgian presidential elections, I am pasting from Georgian MFA web-site a compilation of various reports assessing the election. Their common denominator is the conclusion that the election was essentially free and fair!

Democracy is the most difficult path, sometimes ineffective way as well, but it’s only one without option upon which is possible to rely future prosperity of a country. Democracy is always associated with western values, freedom of expression, protection of human rights and free and transparent elections.

Serbia didn't choose the president in the first round of elections. According to initial results of yesterday elections, Serb Radical Party (SRS) leader Nikolić finished the first round with a lead over the Democratic Party (DS) leader and presidential incumbent.

Editorial office of Rez has published a special edition of this magazine regarding presidential elections that will take place on 20th of January. All copies were given away to young people all over Serbia, with the message that appears on the front page of the magazine: YOU ARE BOYCOTTING! YOU ARE UNDERMINING!

Within "You are Boycotting! You are undermining!" campaign, at Belgrade Knez Mihajlova Street, "My Initiative" movement has called upon young people to go out and vote at the forthcoming presidential elections. The call was aimed at young election abstainers, of which are many in Serbia, regarding that only 10% of citizens younger than 35 vote at the elections. This was not just an appeal to go out and vote, but also to vote responsibly. "My Initiative" thinks that young people in Serbia should show more responsibility for their future, because unless they do so, they will not have the right to complain about president's activities in next five years, during the duration of his mandate.

Civil Georgia / 2008-01-19 11:48:14  
http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16946

OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission assessed vote tabulation process at some precincts as “bad or very bad,” while some polling stations reported “unusually high” voter turnout, the international election observation mission said in its post-election interim report.

Hi to everyone!

I'm Semra from Macedonia and I need your help. I would like from all of you that have any materials from the presentation "Message development" and "Training the trainers" to post on the web site, because this weekend I have to share my Belgrade experience with my colleagues and I need those presentations.

Hope to see any maertrial on the site.

Thanks a lot.

Today, on January 13, there was the biggest protest rally in the center of the city. Opposition accused the Central Election Commission in falsification of results and demanded the second round between Saakashvili and Gachechiladze. Even Davit Gamkrelidze, leader of New Rights Party, who also ran for the presidency, and who is perceived as the most balanced politician told protesters that Saakashvili would be illegitimate president and the run-off was needed.

I invite you to visit my photogalery, where photos from Belgrade appeared! :)

The Transition Studies Network offers 10 scholarships for the BA or MA students to participate in the Winter School: Politics of Memory. 

George, Nodar and other guys from Georgia! Please, tell us something interesting about presidential elections - for example, about infringements, if they were.

ENEMO - one of the international organizations monitoring the Georgian snap presidential elections held on January 5, 2008 has released its report today.