Ruling party invites all elections players to sign deal minimising pre-election clashes

The ruling Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party has finished working on the text of a memorandum to ensure peace during the elections, and will now send the document to all election players for review and signature.

Today GDDG Executive Secretary Irakli Kobakhidze said the text was "short and simple” and it aimed to avoid tension and confrontations in the pre-election environment.

"The memorandum will be sent to election subjects today,” Kobakhidze said.

"We believe that all responsible election subjects will join the memorandum offered by us. Our goal is to avoid incidents, provocations and violence, and hols peaceful elections,” he said.

By signing the document election participants agree to

• Distance their supporters from a rally, meeting or any election-related event organised by another political group or supporters; and
• Do their best not to allow their supporters to hinder an event being held by another political party or person.

People who sign the memorandum understand that counter-rallies by election players have the potential to "encourage violence” and signatories recognise that holding these elections peacefully is vital for democracy in Georgia.

The memorandum will be in force during the whole election period and until the final election results are released.

The Parliamentary Elections will be held on October 8.

GDDG suggested the creation of such memorandum last week, several days after Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili spoke about the importance of avoiding conflicts between rival parties.