Tsinandali Governor – “Get off here, Go and Paste Them in Other Place”

On August 17, attorney of the Tsinandali village territorial entity in Telavi district, Archil Megutnishvili, demanded Georgian Dream’s young activists not to paste posters in the territory of village administration.

Georgian Dream’s activists were pasting posters with slogans “damage was not reimbursed” in Tsinandali village of Telavi district to inform the population about the issue. Attorney of Tsinandali territorial entity, Archil Megutnishvili who was wearing election t-shirt of the National Movement, demanded the young people to remove posters.

“Take them away now,” the attorney told the young people. After the Georgian Dream’s members told him that he was restricting freedom of expression, Archil Megutnishvili demanded them to leave the village. “I do not care about your expression; I have told you to take them down. Everybody is happy with our government so take them away. I do not want to act impudently but they are provoking me; young people of my child’s age. Do not you hear me? I will make you hear me. Get out of here, go and paste them some other place. I do not care, get off here,” the attorney was shouting, wearing National Movement’s t-shirt. Irine Urushadze, lawyer of the Transparency International Georgia, told ICK that the attorney had breached the election code which guarantees right to agitation and this action is punished by fine of 2 000 lari. According to verified information, Megutnishvili is not on holiday. He did not comment on the incident with the ICK.

Irine Urushadze, lawyer of the Transparency International – Georgia told ICK that the attorney’s activities are agitation in accordance election law that is punished by fine of 2 000 lari.

According to election codex, if governor advertises and carries his party’s number during working hours it is considered agitation of your party. It would be legitimate to say that the governor, who does not allow pasting posters of parties, does this based on his functions and not as a party member, With this, he violates election codex because this is agitation and is punishable with a 2 000 lari fine”. – said Irine Urushadze to Information Centre of Khaketi.
According to reliable information Archil Megutnishvili isn’t on a vacation. He makes no comments with Information center of Khaketi about these facts.