UNM representatives carrying guns on election day
Opposition United National Movement member Dimitri Shashkin walking with a gun in Bolnisi municipality, Kvemo Kartli region. Photo: Shot from Rustavi 2 TV video
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Opposition United National Movement member Dimitri Shashkin has been observed walking with a gun near the polling station in the Talaveri village of Bolnisi municipality earlier today.
Shashkin, who admitted carrying the gun, said he is authorised by the interior ministry to do so. However, Shaskin said, he did not enter any polling stations.
The UNM-led Strength in Unity election bloc majoritarian candidate Kakha Okriashvili was also carrying a gun.
Executive Director of Transparency International Georgia Eka Gigauri said politicians should refrain from actions that might frighten voters on election day.
Gigauri said that the situation is already tense and it is wrong for political party representatives to carry guns.
Calling on all political party representatives to avoid any violations, Eka Gigauri urged everyone to make sure they do not create an impression of unsafety at polling stations for those citizens who still have to vote.
If a person has the right to carry the gun, of course, this is not an issue, however, it gives a very negative impression”, Gigauri said.
The head of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association Sulkhan Saladze also said that considering the overall tension in Kvemo Kartli region political parties should refrain from activities which might cause ‘artificial tension'.
The ruling Georgian Dream Executive Secretary Irakli Kobakhidze has meanwhile accused Shashkin of ‘destructive action’.
He said although all of the parliament members and former law enforcers are authorised to carry guns but everyone has their own responsibility on election day.
Why do Dimitri Shashkin and Kakha Okriashvili need to carry guns there?! It is inadmissible”, Kobakhidze said, urging that every ‘destructive action will be severely responded to by law’.
Kobakhidze stated yesterday that tensions and provocations were expected to be sparked in Bolnisi, Dmanisi, Marneuli, Batumi, Zugdidi and Gldani district in Tbilisi.
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