PM accuses opposition party of pressuring election administration

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili is accusing United National Movement (UNM) of putting direct pressure on election officials in an incident at the Marneuli District Election Commission’s (DEC) office.

Garibashvili called on law enforcement agencies, including the Interior Minister and a Chief Prosecutor, to investigate Thursday’s incident involving opposition party UNM.

"Those responsible have to be punished in accordance with the law,” Garibashvili said.

The Marneuli DEC chairman was confronted yesterday by UNM party leaders, who tried to prevent him from canceling the registration of UNM candidate Akmamed Imamquliyev for failing to adhere to the election rules. Imamquliyev planned to run for the head (Gamgebeli) of Marneuli dictrict, Shida Kartli region, in the June 15 local elections.

Imamquliyev’s bid faced legal hurdles related to two-year residency requirements.

Garibashvili believed the Government and the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) coalition were committed to holding of free and fair elections.

"Last year the Presidential elections were unique and unprecedented in the region and we have an ambition to conduct upcoming self-governance elections with the same conditions. This is very important for our state and for development of democracy of our country," Garibashvili noted.

The Prime Minister accused UNM of attempting to provoke and cause tensions in the otherwise calm pre-election environment, ahead of the country’s signing the Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union (EU) on June 27.

"I am calling on every political power to prevent from causing any disorder during the election campaign. This is principal for our state. It does not refer to any political power, it refers to advancement and development of our country," he said.

"This is not acceptable in our country during our governance. It likely happened during the former government by a former authority but we will not allow it now.”

Earlier today UNM appealed the Central Election Commission not to cancel the registration of UNM candidate Imamquliyev.