The electoral process is underway in Georgia. It's been four hours since polling stations opened and so far the environment is peaceful and orderly, says Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, a leading local non-governmental organisation.
Overall the electoral environment around the country was peaceful, and polling stations had opened on time and were fully equipped with the necessary materials and papers. However there had been several minor violations, said head of GYLA Ana Natsvlishvili.
At this time the electoral process is underway in a peaceful environment however several violations have taken place. Media is spreading information about different violations in [capital] Tbilisi and in the regions. We are checking this information and will comment as necessary once we know more," said Natsvlishvili.
Natshvlishvili said a couple of violations had been confirmed and were being investigated.
One violation occurred today during the random selection of [Central Election] Commission members who will accompany the mobile ballot box, when members of the United National Movement party refused to participate in the selection process. We believe this is improper performance of the duties of the Commission member,” Natsvlishvili said.
She added in several districts heads of election stations decided not to allow these Commission members to participate in other randomly selection processes, and only work under the instruction of election station leaders.
We also got the directive, which was given to the heads of the election stations, that allowed them to do so,” Natsvlishvili said.
She also mentioned in two election stations of Tbilisi – #26 election station in Nadzaladevi and #11 election station in Didube – "ethic violation” and "improper behaviour” occurred from members of the monitoring organisations.