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Monitoring Group Studies Pre-Election Environment in Prisons

October 26, 2013

Shorena Kakabadze, Kutaisi

Monitoring group is observing the pre-election environment in the penitentiary establishments. The initiative, which is positively evaluated by experts, belongs to the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance and Central Election Commission.

Based on the Decree # 01-59 of the CEC Chairwoman, two 10-member monitoring groups were set up. They work throughout the country. Besides the members of the nongovernmental and international organizations, the representatives of political parties and CEC were unified in the monitoring groups.

“It is significant fact, at least because it is unprecedented one. It had never happened in Georgia before. Not only nobody studied the pre-election environment in the prisons before, but also even one percent of prisoners had never had chance to freely vote in the elections. It is very important that members of civil society organizations enter prisons, meet the people, who are ordinary voters, learn how informed they are about elections, candidates and their programs. It shows that somebody cares about them. They have chance to make free choice. It is sort of message from the government “we do not want not to control every vote.” So this fact, together with several other facts, is very significant,” election expert Nina Khatiskatsi told humanrights.ge. She positively evaluated the fact that prisoners received IDs.

As for monitoring group members, they have already visited part of penitentiary establishments and made first comments on the situation in prisons. “We studied the situation on the place. The purpose of the monitoring is to evaluate pre-election environment in the prisons; whether prisoners are informed about the upcoming presidential elections, etc. Today we visited Kutaisi Prison # 2 and Geguti Prison # 14. In some penitentiary establishments the situation is acceptable. But we will prepare recommendations on some issues in order to eradicate problems before elections,” Monitoring Group member, lawyer Tamar Lukava of Human Rights Center told humanrights.ge.

She said female prisoners of Kutaisi Prison # 2 do not have access to the pre-election agitation materials. Namely, they are isolated in the establishment and election posters are placed in the places where they have no access. “Prison administration explained that they had received limited number of agitation materials that finally created problems. We will immediately inform the CEC and Penitentiary Ministry about it and hopefully they will resolve the problem, before the Election Day,” Lukava said.

460 voters will take part in the polls in the 129th special precinct of the Kutaisi DEC # 59. DEC Chairman Avtandil Osepaishvili said among registered voters are employees of the prison administration (special list).

As for the Geguti Prison # 14, the special precinct will be opened for prison personnel in it due to existing situation there.

“As we found out, only two of 30 inmates of the prison wished to take part in the polls. So, mobile ballot box will be taken to the prison for those two inmates. As we were told at the administration, prisoners filed written refusals to participate in the elections. Protocols were also drafted on this fact,” lawyer of the Human Rights Center said.

Monitoring of penitentiary establishments will continue. 10 days after it is finished, the monitoring group will provide the CEC with monitoring results.

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