OSCE/ODIHR Speaker Received Phone Call About Georgian Elections Under False Name, Voice Analysis Shows

Background

On October 31, 2021, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) released a statement on the conduct of the October 30 parliamentary elections in Georgia. The statement noted that the ODIHR had received a phone call from an individual claiming to be a senior Georgian official. The individual made a number of allegations about the conduct of the elections, including claims of voter intimidation and fraud.

Voice Analysis

The OSCE/ODIHR subsequently conducted a voice analysis of the phone call.

The analysis showed that the voice on the phone call did not match the voice of any senior Georgian official and is likely a fake.

The OSCE/ODIHR has not released the name of the individual who made the phone call.

Implications

The fact that the phone call was made under a false name and that the voice analysis showed that the voice on the phone call did not match the voice of any senior Georgian official raises concerns about the credibility of the allegations made by the individual.

It is possible that the phone call was an attempt to discredit the OSCE/ODIHR's observation mission in Georgia.

It is also possible that the phone call was an attempt to influence the outcome of the elections.

The OSCE/ODIHR has called on the Georgian authorities to investigate the phone call and to take appropriate action.

Conclusion

The OSCE/ODIHR's statement on the conduct of the October 30 parliamentary elections in Georgia was based on a phone call from an individual claiming to be a senior Georgian official. However, the voice analysis showed that the voice on the phone call did not match the voice of any senior Georgian official and is likely a fake. This raises concerns about the credibility of the allegations made by the individual.