Georgian PM calls all political parties for calm election environment

PM Kvirikashvili: “We, the ruling team, bear greater responsibility. We must prove ourselves capable of holding a fair election.” Photo by PM's press office.

Agenda.ge, 29 Jan 2016 - 15:41, Tbilisi,Georgia

Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili is urging all political parties in Georgia to remain calm following isolated cases of confrontations during yesterday’s municipal elections in the Gardabani region.

"We, the ruling team, bear greater responsibility. We must prove ourselves capable of holding a fair election,” underlined Kvirikashvili at today’s Governmental meeting.

I urge all parties, including the ruling team’s supporters, to simmer down. We have a very important election ahead of us in October which will enable us to strengthen Georgia’s position as a European state,” he emphasised.

Kvirikashvili also thanked all the observers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who monitored the election process in Gardabani. Several NGOs - the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy and Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) – assessed the opening and closing of polling stations, as well as the polling process, as mostly peaceful.

The head of the Georgian Government also called on Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani to review legislation and increase punishments for physical abuse.

"I would like to ask the Justice Minister to see what our legislation prescribes for physical abuse - I do not want us to resort to extremities, however many Western countries enforce much harsher means of punishment than we do. Certain preventive measures could be taken ahead of the election in this regard,” Kvirikashvili said.

Earlier today the Central Election Commission (CEC) revealed preliminary results of the municipal elections of Governor in Georgia’s eastern Gardabani region.

The CEC said Gocha Jamarauli (the candidate of Georgian Dream) received 70.15 percent of votes (16,104 votes), while Besik Kakhabrishvili (the candidate of United National Movement) earned 29.85 percent of votes (6,851 votes).

The CEC said the elections mainly took place in a calm environment however several minor confrontations between several citizens were observed near some polling stations.