Officials from Guria Hope They Will Monitor At Least Second Round of the Elections in Ukraine

Although delegation of 10 persons from Guria was not recognized as observers in Ukraine, coordinator of “Fair Elections” in Ozurgeti district Tamar Kupradze does not leave Ukraine. She went to Ukraine as an EU observer and had no difficulty with registration.

High-ranking officials from Guria region went to observe presidential elections of Ukraine on January 17. Though like other Georgians who wanted to be observers, Central Election Commission of Ukraine did not accredit representatives from Guria.

According to one of the high-ranking officials of Ozurgeti district administration, despite that, officials of district administration and municipality boards were not accredited; law enforcers from Guria went to Ukraine two days before elections.

Representatives of Guria Regional administration do not make comments. Though Lanchkhuti district administration board confirms that on January 14, chairman of municipality board Davit Petriashvili, expert-consultant of municipality board Davit Janelidze, chairman of the fraction “United National Movement” Shota Chagunava, Lanchkhuti district deputy governor Davit Chkhaidze and director of LTD “Lanchkhuti Road” Merab Tsilosani had to go to Ukraine as observers.

Shota Siradze chairman of the ruling party fraction at the municipality board and district deputy governor Dimitri Koripadze from Chokhatauri district had to observe elections in Ukraine. Names of officials from Ozurgeti district administration and municipality board are secret. According to our information, Vice-governor Kakha Askurava had to lead the delegation. However, Central Election Commission of Ukraine did not register Georgian observers.

Ukrainian web-sites published the list of people who wanted to get accreditation. The names of high-ranking officials from Guria are on the list of 1076 people. Everybody was on the list - from Guria region deputy governor to the chief specialist of Youth Department of Ozurgeti district administration

High-ranking officials from Guria hope they would be able to monitor the second round of elections.

Shorena Ghlonti