Voting terminated at one post after protest in west Georgia

Voting has been cancelled at election station 32 in Anaklia, in western Georgia, after angry parents of a missing Georgian man damaged voting papers and election equipment.

The parents of Gogita Abuladze, who disappeared two years ago, have refused to leave the polling station and are continuing to cause a scene despite police attempts to remedy the situation.

During the demonstration bulletins and election equipment were destroyed and the electoral list was torn. As a result, the election process has been terminated at polling station 32.

Police tried to remove the demonstrators from the election station but after much resistance, allowed the family to stay.

Police are still at the scene to monitor the situation.

Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs have begun to investigate the case in accordance with Article 163 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which foresees hampering the work of Electoral Commission.

The Central Election Commission said a new voting date would soon be announced for local voters to have their say at this voting station. 

Abuladze’s parents said they would not leave the polling station until they received details of their son’s disappearance.

Abuladze disappeared on January 18, 2012. His mother said Abuladze was instructed by the security services of the previous government to go to Abkhazia. Abuladze has not been seen or heard from since.