PM Kvirikashvili says by-election clash was “absolutely deplorable”
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Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has again condemned the clash at a regional polling station that left dozens of people battered and bruised after supporters of opposing political parties started fighting one another.
At today’s Governmental meeting Kvirikashvili stressed last weekend’s clash was an "absolutely deplorable and regretful fact” and he tasked relevant ministries to strictly address the incident.
On May 22 a fight involving dozens of people erupted between supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party and opposition United National Movement (UNM) outside a polling station in Kortskheli village, Zugdidi municipality, during the by-elections for Sakrebulo (local council).
Kvirikashvili stressed the ruling party and its supporters had "a higher obligation of forbearance” and appealed to the party’s supporters to refrain from engaging in fights or other controversies.
This is an absolutely deplorable and regretful fact. An investigation into the case has already been launched. Above all I would like to assure our supporters that this is not our style,” Kvirikashvili stressed.
We do not intend to hold elections in this manner. We aim to ensure violence-free polling stations where citizens have the opportunity to express their will by voting in a free environment unimpeded by confrontations and conflicts,” said the PM.
Kvirikashvili said it was imperative these types of incidents were prevented from happening again and he instructed law enforcement bodies to increase their presence during the elections or other similar occasions.
I urge law enforcers to pay closer attention to violent acts of this kind and ensure the full presence of law enforcers in the future during the elections,” Kvirikashvili said.
The Georgian high official instructed the Ministry of Justice to propose legislative amendments to toughen the penalties for people who engage in acts of violence during the election period.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili is condemning a clash at a regional polling station that left dozens of people battered and bruised after supporters of opposing political parties started fighting one another.
The by-elections of Sakrebulo (local council) are being held at local majoritarian election districts in Gldani district of Tbilisi, Gardabani and Kaspi in eastern Georgia as well as Tskaltubo, Ozurgeti, Khobi and Zugdidi in the country’s west.
This morning Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani announced the Ministry had prepared legislative amendments to the Criminal Code of Georgia, where any kind of violence or threat of violence during a pre-election campaign or during the voting process would be punishable by law.
Six people have been charged with hooliganism for fighting outside a polling station during the by-elections for Sakrebulo (local council).
The United States (US) Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly has spoken out about the importance of charging those involved in a fight during the by-elections in western Zugdidi, saying a tough stance would prevent others from being violent in the future.
The Ministry of Defence has today fired a soldier for participating in a clash at the western Zugdidi by-elections on May 22
"I must say, this is quite a good campaign,. The environment is very civilized. It started only recently but I cannot wait for the next stages,” said US Ambassador Ian Kelly.
"These Parliamentary Elections will be a test of our democracy and we are all dedicated to ensuring these elections are held in a way that meets the highest standards,” says Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvrikashvili.