NGOs urge prompt investigation of attack on Georgian Dream members

Several leading Georgian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have issued a joint statement urging authorities to thoroughly investigate an incident that left three young Georgian Dream members hospitalised after they were assaulted allegedly by supporters of an opposition party.

On Saturday night three members of the youth wing of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party were attacked and beaten allegedly by supporters of United National Movement (UNM) party in western Samegrelo region.

"The violent incident that occurred in Didinedzi Village on October 1 is jeopardising the free and fair pre-election environment. A physical clash one week before the elections leads to escalation of tensions between political forces, giving rise to a violent setting for the Election Day,” the statement read.

NGOs that jointly signed the statement were:

• International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)
• Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA)
• Transparency International (TI) – Georgia
• Civil Development Agency, and
• Open Society Georgia Foundation

The statement said the confrontation between opposition political supporters occurred when the GDDG trio distributed campaign materials. The confrontation escalated and the three GDDG youths were attacked.

Their injuries were serious enough for them to be taken to hospital for treatment.

A physician at Zugdidi Hospital told reporters: "two have sustained a concussion, one has sustained a superficial injury on his head”.

The NGO statement spoke to both sides involved in the incident.

"The Georgian Dream alleges that former Gamgebeli [governor] of Didinedzi Village and head of the local UNM office Papuna Kukava were involved in the incident, along with Municipality Sakrebulo [local council] member Kakha Kiria (of UNM) and several other supporters of the opposition party. UNM has dismissed allegations about Kakha Kiria’s involvement and has accused Georgian Dream representatives of inciting the confrontation,” stated the NGOs.

Earlier the Georgian Dream regional office in Zugdidi urged its supporters not to take the bait of provocations, while UNM leader Tengiz Gunava said it was a "deplorable incident” but said the GDDG representatives "received an adequate response” to their use of bad language.

The NGOs urged investigators to investigate the incident promptly, fairly and objectively, and take adequate legal measures for ensuring peaceful and a safe electoral environment.

They also urged political parties and their representatives to act "very responsibly” during the election period and refrain from engaging in any confrontation or using violence, or from making statements that may provoke violence.

"We believe that any statement implying that violence is justified, even if it does so indirectly, may heighten the risk of violent confrontations during the pre-election period,” the NGOs said.

"Similar incidents ahead of the elections impact the conduct of elections in a healthy political environment, which will eventually be detrimental to the quality of democracy and governance in the country.”

Read more about the October 1 incident here.