Human Rights Center’s Statement about Ballot Procedures and Vote Counting during the Parliamentary Elections

100 monitors of Human Rights Center observed elections in about 100 polling stations in 23 election districts in several regions of Georgia on the October 1, 2012 Parliamentary Elections. Our observers observed more than 70 violations in different polling stations and filed relevant complaints on them.

Significant violations were observed in the polling stations in Sagarejo, Gardabani and Marneuli districts which are mostly inhabited by ethnic Azerbaijan people. The privacy of election right was systematically breached in those precincts. Namely, more than one voter used to enter ballot cabin and very often voters loudly suggested each other to mark number 5 - election number of the United National Movement. Election commission members also participated in these violations.

For example, election commission chairperson in PS # 49 in Gardabani DEC # 21 actively agitated and suggested almost every voter to vote number 5. Besides that, the privacy of polling process was completely breached; voters publicly demonstrated whom they had voted for after leaving the cabins. In addition to that, absolute majority of voters used to enter cabins in groups. Many facts of oppression on media representatives and observers were observed in the same polling station. People with unidentified status threatened Human Rights Center’s observer Nino Gvedashvili several times and forbade her to respond to violations. Consequently, HRC observer filed a complaint on those violations to the DEC and requested to annul election results in that particular precinct.

Human Rights Center observed more than 50 violations in polling stations in Kakheti region. Most scandalous violation was observed in PS # 5 in Duisi village, Pankisi gorge. Human Rights Center’s observer found 22 documents printed out from the closed electronic data base of the MIA in the PS building; those documents provided complete information about voters. It is not public information and ordinary citizens shall not have access to it. Human Rights Center’s observer Gela Mtivlishvili requested to annul election results at the DEC and attached the discovered list to his complaint.

Human Rights Center’s observers in Kakheti found dead people on the list in PS # 15 in Kvareli. An ethnic Azerbaijan observer in Kabali PS # 18 was shouting Bes-Besh (Azerbaijan for five) in the polling station and agitated in favor of the UNM.

In Velistsikhe village a woman participated in the elections instead her mother-in-law; in several polling stations observers could not monitor the process because of small space; besides that polling stations were not properly equipped for election procedures.

According to observers’ statements, it was difficult for them to register complaints in the villages inhabited by ethnic Azerbaijan citizens and they could manage it only after representatives of the District Election Commissions interfered in the situation. Very often observers were refused to accept their complaints.

Ballot papers were not enough almost in every polling station where Human Rights Center’s observers carried out monitoring; commission chairpersons hindered media representatives to video-record ballot process. It was mainly caused by incorrect definition of the regulations from the CEC September 24 Resolution.

Due to aforementioned circumstances, we believe that election procedures were carried out through significant violations in several polling stations of Sagarejo, Gardabani, Marneuli and Akhmeta districts. On that ground we request to scrupulously review elections results from the following polling stations: PS # 49 (Muganlo village) and PS # 58 (Karajala village) in Gardabani DEC # 21 and PS # 5 (Duisi village) in Akhmeta DEC # 18.

Human Rights Center carried out video-monitoring in part of polling stations. The video-footage demonstrates various significant violations and assumed perpetrators might be detected in them. Human Rights Center is preparing a documentary film based on that video-evidence, which will be screened in near future.

Technical shortcomings and violations were observed in majority of polling stations. There were precincts, for example, in Lanchkhuti election district, where there was so dark in the PS that people needed additional illumination-source in the cabins. In some stations, marking apparatus were working badly.

Human Rights Center still receives monitoring materials and analyzes them. Center continues monitoring of counting and appeal process against election results after what it will prepare final report which will be sent to all interested parties and election subjects.

Human Rights Center
05.10.12