On September 30, Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri issued a decree, published on October 4, establishing territorial groups of police officers responsible for preventing and addressing violations during the pre-election period and on election day. These groups will operate within local police departments and aim to ensure that Georgia's parliamentary elections take place in a “free, safe, and peaceful environment.”

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) emphasized that these groups are tasked with implementing measures to ensure the safe conduct of the elections, including preventive policing in accordance with the Law of Georgia on Police. The decree took effect upon publication and will remain in force until the Central Electoral Commission finalizes the election results. The territorial groups must be established by October 18.

The decree outlines the composition of these territorial groups, which will include:

• The Director of the relevant territorial unit of the Ministry;
• The Head of the appropriate unit of the Patrol Police Department, responsible for maintaining continuous coordination with the Ministry;
• A representative appointed by the Head of the Central Criminal Police Department;
• A representative from the Department of Special Tasks;
• The Head of the territorial unit of the Security Police Department, if necessary;
• The Head of the territorial division of the Emergency Management Agency.

All police units under the MIA, excluding certain sub-departmental institutions, will be placed under the operational control of the territorial groups. The Head of each group is required to develop a plan to maintain public order and execute the tasks outlined in the decree.

The territorial groups are responsible for ensuring a secure election environment by organizing police actions to identify potential threats and assess risks. They are also tasked with transporting election materials, including ballots, at the request of the precinct election commission, and responding to any violations in accordance with Georgian law. Additionally, these groups must ensure that political canvassing is carried out in a peaceful and free environment and take action if there is a reasonable suspicion of potential violence or threats to public safety.

In cases of reported violations, the territorial groups will verify the accuracy of the information before deploying police units, except when reports are made by the precinct chairperson. Officers responding to incidents must be in uniform, and any individuals accused of disrupting the voting process or attempting to provoke conflict may be prohibited from participating in the elections. Furthermore, police patrols around polling stations will be intensified if large gatherings or movements of people raise concerns about possible violence.

The decree mandates that police officers must remain politically neutral in performing their duties, ensuring that their actions do not favor or oppose any political party.