Ruling party urges dip corps, observers to closely monitor Zugdidi by elections, as ‘opposition wants unrest’
Vice Speaker Tamar Chugoshvili says that situation might get tensed in Zugdidi during the May 19 by elections. Photo: Parliament’s press office.
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Vice Parliament Speaker of Georgia Tamar Chugoshvili has urged dip corps in Georgia, local and foreign organisations to particularly monitor the by elections in Zugdidi, western Georgia, “as there are obvious signs that the opposition have plans to stir unrest there.”
The statement comes after the rally of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition and its allied parties in front of Zugdidi district election commission today, saying they are protesting verbal and physical abuse of the UNM members and their mayoral candidate yesterday and the handing over of voters’ lists to polling stations in Zugdidi “through the violation of law.”
The UNM members stated during the rally that 5,000 activists from different Georgian regions will be sent to Zugdidi on the election day to “protect the May 19 by elections from rigging.”
The opposition say that they will do their utmost "to protect the elections." Photo: netgazeti.
In their previous statements the UNM members said that “saving the country from the current government should start from Zugdidi,” where former first lady Sandra Roelofs is running for the mayor.
All the signs are in place that the situation might get tensed in Zugdidi and that is why we urge the diplomatic corps and observers Zugdidi to be in focus,” Chugoshvili said.
She stated that it is the only goal of the government to conduct the elections in the transparent and the peaceful environment.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze said that in Zugdidi and other regions the elections will be held “with the protection of the highest standards,” and no one will be allowed to discredit the process.
The Georgian Central Election Commission responded to the opposition earlier today by saying that the lists were handed “in full line with the law”. However, to avoid speculations, the lists were taken back to the district election commission.
Relofs said that the ruling party wished to use the personal information on the lists to influence the decisions of voters.
She also urged the diplomatic corps to “protect the elections from rigging.”
Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated yesterday that the number of policemen at polling stations will be specified after studying the situation and consulting with partners.
Georgia will hold municipal by-elections on May 19 to elect members of eight city councils (Sakrebulo) and five municipal mayors, the Central Election Commission (CEC) announced today. Polls will open for parliamentary by-elections in the district of Mtatsminda, in Georgia’s capital of Tbilisi on the same day as well.
Former first lady and wife of the third President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili Sandra Roelofs has announced plans to run in the by elections of Zugdidi Mayor, in western Georgia.
The Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) has dismissed allegations of the United National Movement opposition party that voters’ lists were handed out earlier than was planned to Zugdidi polling stations, in western Georgia, which could may have been used to influence voters.
Police have detained one person for violence after an incident in the yard of the Dadiani Palace in the Samegrelo region of western Georgia, where former first lady Sandra Roelofs was giving an interview to Odishi TV channel, amid the May 19 by elections.
Members of the Georgian Dream ruling party say that the United National Movement (UNM) and its allied parties may prevent people from voting in Zugdidi, in western Georgia, if they send hundreds of their activists there.
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has recently stated that she is “actively following” pre-election developments in Georgia and is concerned by the “extremely tense situation” in Zugdidi, the country’s west.