Levan Makhashvili, the Chair of the EU Integration Committee, partakes in the OSCE PA winter session.

In his speech at the OSCE Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, he underscored that advanced technologies and social media have significantly altered the electoral landscape, presenting advantages for democratic progress while also posing challenges to the electoral processes.

"For the first time in the history of Georgia, we resorted to the SmartMatic e-devices for the registration of the electors, polling, vote tabulation and the protocol counting - which covered over 90% of the electors. The aforementioned initiative has effectively mitigated human errors and nearly eliminated substantial electoral disparities. Consequently, it has fostered a surge in public confidence in the electoral process. Therefore, there is no need to be apprehensive about advanced technologies. However, the high-tech capability to enhance public trust also entails risks when misused. For instance, in 2024, we observed how elections could be discredited and political processes destabilized without any substantiated evidence presented by opposition groups and their affiliated international actors through coordinated disinformation and prevarication campaigns. Taking the aforementioned into account, in view to enhance the sustainability of the democratic processes and electoral integrity by advanced technologies and media, it is imperative to ensure their publication in strict adherence to the accountability and transparency standards", - he stated, adding that the Georgian Parliament aspires to hold intensive lawmaking activity in both directions during the spring session to improve the political framework and its practical realization within public and media spheres. We would be delighted to cooperate with concerned OSCE PA members to study the best practices you can offer in this direction".

Levan Makhashvili also addressed the rapporteur of the Committee.

"Until you choose to use the term "political repressions," please bear in mind that you are discussing 29 individuals who are currently facing criminal charges for using "Molotov cocktails" to shoot at police officers, for attacking state institutions, and for crimes that are clearly evident in the video footage. The Government of Georgia is committed to cooperating with you and your team and sharing the aforementioned evidence videos within the development of your report", - he stressed.

The Parliamentary Delegation serves the official visit to Vienna, Austria for the attendance of the OSCE PA winter sessions. Delegation is composed of the Head of the Delegation, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Nikoloz Samkharadze, Levan Makhashvili, Chair of the EU Integration Committee, Maia Bitadze, Chair of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee.