PM Garibashvili condemns pre-election upsets, urges restraint

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashviliis calling for all political groups to refrain for engaging in acts that tarnishes the pre-election environment in Georgia and says groups should respect free political expression.

Today the PM publically condemned isolated incidents reported during lead up to the June 15 municipal elections.

Garibashvili said his Government was determined to hold the municipal elections next Sunday in a transparent, democratic, and free environment.

"The Presidential election held by our Government last year was commended by all international monitoring organisations as exemplary and in line with the highest democratic standards.We intend to maintain those standards,” he said.

"Any action that implies pressure on or intimidation of political opponents, or aggression against the election administration, regardless of the political force behind it, poses an immediate threat to the principle of fair elections and undermines the image of our Government.”

He called on all political parties and supporters to act responsibly, and said the Government would not tolerate any form of upset or violence.

"No violation of the law will be overlooked,” he added.

PM Garibashvili believed law enforcement officials were impartially investigating all recent cases of inappropriate acts and would address each one.

"Georgia is preparing to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union at the end of this month. As demonstrated during the last Presidential election, the municipal elections must also demonstrate yet again that Georgia is raising its democracy to European standards,” Garibashvili said.

In recent days incidents between opposition members and various groups of people have intensified.

Three days ago, United National Movement (UNM) members hosted a political campaign in Batumi. Opposition citizens soon arrived and began to confront the UNM group, which led to both sides verbally abusing each other.

On June 5 in Marenuli, another incident occurred where UNM members visited the Marneuli district election commission and demanded an explanation from the Central Election Commission regional head whether he would remove their election candidate for allegedly not complying to election rules.