For the first time in decades, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has not been invited to Georgia to observe the local election, that took place on 4th October. In the aftermath of an election round that saw the “Georgian Dream” party, that has been ruling the country for 13 years, get out of the polls as a winner, sparkling a street demonstration called for by most opposition parties, but harshly repressed by the police, today the Congress expressed its “deep regret” for the fact the “Georgian authorities ignored a repeated call for a return to democratic election standards”. Georgia’s election is thought not to have been fair and free. “We therefore urge the authorities to engage in genuine and constructive political dialogue with the opposition and civil society”, a statement from Strasbourg said, “aimed at restoring confidence in the electoral process and strengthening governance at all levels”. The European institution on its part is completely willing to support Georgia, “in any way possible, in fulfilling its obligations as a member of the Council of Europe in safeguarding democracy, human rights and the rule of law at local level”.