Interior Ministry: public order maintained to enable citizens to vote freely
TMeanwhile, the Central Election Commission calls upon all electoral commissions ‘to act in line with the norms defined by the legislation, the latter is necessary to professionally conduct the elections’. Photo: Nino alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The Georgian Interior Ministry says the public order is being maintained throughout the country to ensure that citizens can cast their ballot in free and safe environment.
Ministry representative Natia Kovziashvili said at a news briefing that the ministry representatives are in close communication with the local and international non-government organisations as well as the Public Defender’s Office.
During the briefing Kovziashvili named some of the incidents that took place in various constituencies of Georgia on the election day, including the illegal interference into journalists’ activities in Zugdidi, western Georgia, as well as a violent confrontation adjacent to the polling station in the village of Kizilajlo in Marneuli municipality, Kvemo Kartli region.
We call on every person and organization involved in the election process despite their political views to adhere to law, obey to the lawful orders of the police and contribute to holding the elections in a peaceful and safe environment”, Kovziashvili said.
Meanwhile, civic organizations and political parties also report on the election day violations among others in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.
Shame Movement has tweeted:
#Gvote21 @FormulaGe reports that @MovementDroa’s Shushana Matsaberidze who’s observing elections in Gldani, says that up to 10 criminal police reps’ are mobilized near the polling station and do not keep the 100 meters set distance. She believes this happens to pressure voters. pic.twitter.com/BwrzX0GFHS
— Shame Movement (@Shamemovement) October 2, 2021
Droa movement has meanwhile stated that their observers have noticed criminal police outside one of the polling stations in Gldani constituency in Tbilisi 'most likely to intimidate voters and put psychological pressure on them'.
The situation got tense in #Gldani - where our observer caught someone handing out material to commission members from the window.
— Droa (@MovementDroa) October 2, 2021
Commission members didn't let her file a complaint, GD's party activist/agitator showed up soon after & the Police was ordered. #GVote21 pic.twitter.com/B9of0RuOW1
Various violations have been reported from other constituencies as well:
#gevote2021 major violation: the precinct protocol from Kutaisi was signed and stamped in advance. They'll write the results they want afterwards. Outrageous.
— Shota Dighmelashvili (@shotadig) October 2, 2021
In @CivilEC_ we continue to monitor violations. Follow us here and upload the violations on https://t.co/Xh99IC8w4w pic.twitter.com/3u2zIkRPov
The Central Election Commission (CEC) has however stated that the above summary protocol will be destroyed, while the election precinct will be provided with the new summary protocol.
Stressing that the election administration ‘will have an appropriate response on similar misconducts’, the CEC calls upon all electoral commissions ‘to act in line with the norms defined by the legislation, the latter is necessary to professionally conduct the elections’.