Interior Minister: Our citizens will vote in democratic, free environment
Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia has cast his ballot at Mtatsminda #5 polling station in Georgia's capital of Tbilisi. Photo: Interior Ministry press office
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Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who has cast his ballot at Mtatsminda polling station No. 5 in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, said law enforcers will ensure that today’s by-elections are held in a democratic and free environment.
The Interior Ministry and police will fully ensure a safe environment on election day”, Gakharia said,
He also stressed that citizens will have the opportunity to vote in a democratic and free environment, despite the risks and provocations that may take place during the day.
Minister Gakharia said the number of observers is "unprecedentedly" high in Zugdidi, one of the five municipalities where the local population is electing a new mayor.
He said law enforcers will be mobilised all across the country to ensure safety, including in Zugdidi.
Any incident that may happen, will it be provocations or violation of law, will be strictly and rapidly responded by the police and the interior ministry”, Gakharia said.
He then referred to yesterday’s incident in Zugdidi, when two men fired a gun several times on Chavchavadze Street and then ran away.
The two, identified as I.Ch and B.G., were detained late yesterday. An investigation is underway. If found guilty, they may face from four to seven years of prison.
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has recently stated that she is “actively following” pre-election developments in Georgia and is concerned by the “extremely tense situation” in Zugdidi, the country’s west.
The citizens of Georgia will elect one parliament member, five mayors and members of eight city councils (Sakrebulo) across the country tomorrow, May 19. Polls will open at 8 am at 410 polling stations where 402,091 voters are registered.
Leader of the united opposition, uniting the United National Movement and allied parties, Grigol Vashadze says that 1,400 members of the opposition, 1,000 volunteers and up to 2,000 members of NGOs will be in Zugdidi, in western Georgia, during the May 19 by-elections.
Four hours have passed since the opening of polling stations in Georgia and the opposition has already claimed that violations at various polling stations have taken place, while the ruling party claims the elections are underway in a peaceful environment and without violations.
Central Election Commission has reported violations at several election stations. Spokeswoman Ana Mikeladze said observers and members of political party have taken voters’ ID cards and wrote down their data, which is a violation.
The leader of the parliamentary majority Archil Talakvadze presented an audio recording of “the closest circle” of former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and his wife Sandra Roelofs, now running in the by-elections for Zugdidi mayor, at a special briefing several minutes ago.
27,256 voters, accounting for 6.8 percent of the total number of voters, cast their ballots in today’s by-elections by 10 a.m., two hours after the polling stations opened in Georgia, the Central Election Commission (CEC) announced.
Georgia is going to the polls today to elect a member of parliament, five mayors and members of eight city councils (Sakrebulo) across the country. Polls opened at 8 a.m. this morning for 402,091 eligible voters at 410 polling stations.