Irakli Okruashvili Appeals CEC Decision at the Court

Lado Bichashvili, Shida Kartli

Based on the decision of the Central Election Commission, former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili cannot participate in the local elections; the decision was made next day after Okruashvili registered as a candidate for the position of Gori Mayor. The CEC studied his case based on the complaints filed by chairman of the political movement For Fair Georgia Sergo Javakhadze and leader of the People’s Party Mamuka Giorgadze.

Mamuka Giorgadze and Sergo Javakhidze said registration of Irakli Orkuashvili as a candidate of Gori Mayor for the upcoming local elections contradicted requirements of the Georgian Election Code. They mentioned Article 167 Paragraph I of the Code in their application to the CEC, which states “A citizen of Georgia with the right to suffrage, having attained the age of 25, who speaks Georgian language, may be elected the Mayor of Tbilisi. A citizen not having lived in Georgia for the last 2 years may not be elected the Mayor of Tbilisi.” 

The authors of the complaint paid particular attention to the violation of this provision and requested Gori DEC to annul registration of Okruashvili as a candidate for the position of Gori Mayor. Javakhidze and Giorgidze claimed Irakli Okruashvili had not lived in Georgia for the past two years and his registration as a candidate contradicted the election code. CEC upheld their application and cancelled Okruashvili’s candidature. 

Okruashvili’s lawyer Zviad Kordzadze said, they will appeal the CEC decision at the Court.

Zviad Kordzadze: “CEC annulled decision of the Gori DEC. As soon as we receive the commission decision, we will appeal it.”

Gori District Election Commission registered Irakli Okruashvili as a candidate for the position of Gori Mayor at 18:00 pm on April 21. Two days later, CEC suspended his authority as a candidate.