Police detain one for election-related violence, involving former first lady Sandra Roelofs
The United National Movement accuses the ruling party of the incident in Samegrelo, where several of its party members were attacked. Photo: news.ge.
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Police have detained one person for violence after an incident in the yard of the Dadiani Palace in the Samegrelo region of western Georgia, where former first lady Sandra Roelofs was giving an interview to Odishi TV channel, amid the May 19 by elections.
The United National Movement opposition party (UNM), which presented Roelofs for the Zugdidi Mayor in the upcoming elections, reports that several individuals attacked journalists and a cameraman, attacked party member Nika Vacheishvili and verbally insulted Roelofs.
They were attacked by five individuals who are members of the Georgian Dream ruling party,” the UNM reports.
The Interior Ministry has reported that one individual, Gela Kvaratskhelia, has been detained, who told the media that he would “never allow Roelofs to enter Samegrelo.”
The ministry stated that everyone, no matter which party they belong to, will be held accountable if they violate the law.
They urged people to avoid being provocative in the election period.
Georgia will hold municipal by-elections on May 19 to elect members of eight city councils (Sakrebulo) and five municipal mayors, the Central Election Commission (CEC) announced today. Polls will open for parliamentary by-elections in the district of Mtatsminda, in Georgia’s capital of Tbilisi on the same day as well.
The Georgian Dream ruling party has named a candidate for Tbilisi Mtatsminda district MP and mayors in five cities - Zugdidi, Marneuli, Zestaponi, Tchiatura and Khulo.
Former first lady and wife of the third President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili Sandra Roelofs has announced plans to run in the by elections of Zugdidi Mayor, in western Georgia.
Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia said that he will consult with foreign partners and international observers to decide on how many policemen will be sent to different polling stations around Georgia during the May 19 by elections.
The Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) has dismissed allegations of the United National Movement opposition party that voters’ lists were handed out earlier than was planned to Zugdidi polling stations, in western Georgia, which could may have been used to influence voters.
Vice Parliament Speaker of Georgia Tamar Chugoshvili has urged dip corps in Georgia, local and foreign organisations to particularly monitor the by elections in Zugdidi, western Georgia, “as there are obvious signs that the opposition have plans to stir unrest there.”