Georgian Dream Appeals against Election results in Khoni

Mari Tabidze, Khoni

After a tense pre-election campaign when two activists of Georgian Dream were imprisoned for 70 days, the ballot process was conducted in a peaceful environment.

31 polling stations were opened in the Khoni Election district N55. Two special polling stations were opened - one in psychiatric hospital where 273 voters were registered and second for the military unit where 159 voters participated in elections. There were 24 231 people registered in Khoni election district N55, but shortage of ballot papers was problem in this district like in many others.

Agitation was observed in PS # 2 during elections which was done by Paata Kakabadze cousin of Akaki Bobokhidze, representative of the National Movement. He openly requested voters to mark number five. Khatuna Bakhtadze, wife of Paata Kakabadze, was chair of the PEC # 2. After observers and opposition party representatives found out this fact Kakabadze left polling station, and continued agitation in the PS yard.

Procedural violations were observed at the PS # 8.  On October 3 after Georgian Dream’s majoritarian candidate Nikoloz Sanodze filed complaint DEC held a meeting to annul the Khoni PS # 8. Giorgi Vashadze from the National Movement also attended this meeting. The results were not annulled. DEC Chairwoman Ia Kuchukidze said: “They would have complained the procedural violations in the polling station. Despite that we have discussed their complaint.”

This fact was followed by an incident near the commission territory. Georgian Dream members were gathered in front of the commission. After the session Giorgi Vashadze and Levan Bobokhidze, head of National Movement’s Khoni district organization, left DEC office, the gathered people met them aggressively. Police accompanied Vashadze safely but Bobokhidze was assaulted by one activist. According to people Bobokhidze insulted them and it tensed situation.

It is noteworthy that Vashadze had received the status of the National Movement’s representative in the commission on October 2, a day before the session.

According to Aleksandre Akobidze observer from the Georgian Dream in Khoni Election district N55 they will appeal this decision and they will use all legal sources to protect their votes.

It should be noticed that Khoni DEC discussed three complaints of Nikoloz Sanodze, majoritarian candidate of Georgian Dream but none of them were satisfied.

According to recent data, David Chavchanidze from National Movement obtained 48.75% and Nika Sanodze from Georgian Dream - 46,9 %.  Results from two special polling stations are also included in it.