Over 170 Signatures on NGO and Media Organizations’ Petition

Over 170 signatures were gathered for the petition of NGOs and media organizations, member of the coalition for Freedom of Choice, Magda Popiashvili told InterPressNews. As she informs, gathering electronic signatures still continues.

Representatives signing the petition consider that the law poses a threat to each citizens, media and civil society and deteriorates the electoral environment in the country.

“That’s the reason the campaign is called “This concerns you”. We want to inform the wider society about the threats the law on Political Unions of Citizens contains, we also want the whole society to be behind the legislative initiative that will be introduced to parliament by us along with the petition tomorrow”, editor-in-chief of “Liberali” Shorena Shaverdeashvili told InterPressNews.

She says that the web page of the campaign will be activated in coming days and a page in Facebook, where the public will be regularly informed about planned events.

Petition signed by NGOs and media organizations states: “Realizing the significance of fair and free election, we, representatives of NGO and media sector of Georgia find categorically inadmissible the legislative changes adopted in December of 2011 which: Restrict the civil activism, property rights, freedom of expression and political activity and hinder the democratic development; Impose severe and unfair responsibility on the voters; Grant indefinite and unconstitutional authorities to the main controller of the financing of political parties – Control Chamber of Georgia; Create serious threats for every citizen as well as the civil society including media; Worsen election environment. Considering the abovementioned, we request to adopt changes in the election legislation.”

“NGOs and media organizations will submit the signed petition and the package of draft laws to the Parliament tomorrow,” – the executive director of Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) Eka Popkhadze stated to interpressnews.

According to her, GYLA has been expressing protest against the Law on Political Unions of Citizens starting from the day of its adoption.

“We are joining this wide campaign “This Concerns You,” because we think that more people and organizations express their position, more significant the outcome will be. The legislative initiative will be submitted to the Parliament tomorrow which will state what kind of changes we consider necessary. We will actively be involved in the discussion process of this initiative,” – Eka Popkhadze noted.

The head of Transparency International Georgia Eka Gigauri names the reasons for the alarm.

“It restricts freedom of expression, property rights, is unconstitutional, grants the Control Chamber with indefinite authorities and in sum creates non-democratic electoral environment,” Eka Gigauri explained.

The head of International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy Nino Lomjaria thinks that this law will regard not only civil society, but media and businesses as well.

“This is why we decided to give large-scale nature to this campaign and explain the public what threats it poses,” – Nino Lomjaria stated.

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