Interior Ministry: Police investigate all election incidents
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Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched an investigation into several cases of violence that erupted at a couple of election stations in Georgia during yesterday’s Parliamentary Elections.
The Ministry said in a statement that police were investigating four cases of violation that happened during the voting process and afterwards.
Marneuli clash
Law enforcers are investigating a physical confrontation that erupted at an election station in southern Georgia’s Marneuli district about 6om last evening, injuring several police officers.
The Interior Ministry said in Kizil-Ajlo village supporters of opposition United National Movement party and election Bloc Paata Burchuladze-State for People attempted to invade the #48 polling station and steal the ballot box.
Law enforcements who were mobilised at the station did not allow this to happen which resulted in increased aggression by the supporters of both parties and they started to throw stones towards police officers,” the Ministry said.
As a result of the clash several police officers, including head of Marneuli police, were injured.
Police said the aggressors failed to steal the ballot box.
Attack at #79 polling station in Jikhashkari, Zugdidi
A separate investigation was launched after a group of people invaded #79 polling station of Jikhashkari Village in western Zugdidi district.
Police said the violent group broke the ballot box, damaged election items and stole the mobile phones of election observers.
One of the attackers physically assaulted an international observer, who needed medical assistance.
Police have identified and detained the organiser of the attack, who was personally involved in the attack,” said the Interior Ministry, adding currently other participants were being identified and searched.
Attack at #108 polling station in Jikhashkari, Zugdidi
The #108 polling station in the same village was also attacked. The ballot box was broken and election items were damaged. Police are investigating this case too.
Kutaisi clash
The Interior Ministry said a physical confrontation between supporters of two parties erupted near the #90 polling station in western Kutaisi last night.
It was believed that during the clash a camera belonging to a local TV company was broken.
Police are currently questioning witnesses as part of the investigation.
The Ministry said it would adequately react to all these cases of violations.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili thanked the country’s police for "preventing a very serious, well-planned provocation” during yesterday's election. Last night he visited injured police officer, Deputy Chief of Kvemo Kartli regional Police, Ramin Ismailov at Tbilisi Ingorokva Hospital.
Opposition United National Movement (UNM) party denied its supporters were involved in the incident where several police officers were injured after being hit by stones and other debris.
The country's Interior Ministry said supporters of opposition parties United National Movement party (UNM) and the election bloc Paata Burchuladze - State for People attacked #48 polling station in Kizilajlo Village, mainly populated by ethnic Azerbaijanis.
Georgia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has counted 82.55 percent of all votes countrywide. For the majoritarian results, it is believed a second round of vote will be needed at 50 of 73 districts countrywide.
Two European Union (EU) top officials say the 2016 Parliamentary Elections in Georgia were "competitive, well-administered and fundamental freedoms were generally respected”.
It’s Monday but children in a small village in southern Georgia could not go to school today. The reason was very political even though children are not interested in politics at all.
Georgia’s Interior Ministry has launched an investigation into an incident last night where a physical confrontation erupted between supporters of two opposed political parties in Tbilisi.
A second round of October 8 Parliamentary Elections of Georgia will likely take place on October 30 and a repeat vote at four polling stations will likely be held on October 22.
A repeat vote of the October 8 Parliamentary Elections of Georgia is taking place place today, Saturday October 22 at several polling stations countrywide where votes were nullified due to incidents on Election Day.
Polling stations have opened and people are encouraged to have their say in today's repeat vote.
CEC spokesperson Ana Mikeladze said voter turnout was 20.6 percent in Marneuli and 18.46 percent in Zugdidi at 12pm - four hours after polling stations opened in today's repeat vote.
A Georgian man has been detained for allegedly attacking foreign observers in a late night attack on Election Day on October 8.