Human Rights Center Calls on Government to Eliminate Violence and Aggression against Opposition Leaders

According to the assessment of Human Rights Center, local self-government elections were held mostly in peaceful and fair environment in the election precincts where the observers of Human Rights Center were present. Observed violations were mostly procedural and could not have affected the final results of the elections.

28 observers of Human Rights Center observed elections in the villages inhabited by ethnical minorities in Kakheti region and in the near-conflict villages of Sachkhere municipality in Imereti Region.

Observers of Human Rights Center submitted 9 complaints in total in the election precincts and made about 30 notes in the record book. Two of these complaints have been presented to the district commission with the request to abolish the results of the respective precincts.

Most notes were made in Akhmeta Municipality, in the precincts located in Pankisi gorge. Complaints were also made in the villages inhabited by ethnic minorities in Sagarejo, Telavi and Akhmeta.

According to the information of Human Rights Center, like Presidential Elections of 2013, most violations observed at the local self-government were caused by the lack of qualification and professionalism of electoral administration.

Besides, the electoral process was flawed by several facts of aggression and attack against the representatives of UNM from the side of Georgian Dream supporters and representatives. It is especially alarming that the attacks took place during the near election period or directly against the party offices. The alleged facts of pressure against the candidates that resulted in withdrawal of some of their candidacies were also problematic.

It is alarming that at the Election Day violent incidents took place in several precincts and aggression and violence continued against opposition leaders after the elections. Specifically, in several hours after the closing of election precincts, representatives and supporters of Georgian Dream attacked UNM leaders, Giga Bokeria and Nugzar Tsiklauri and physically and verbally assaulted them. Though this incident took place in front of the police station, law-enforcement did not react adequately and did not detain the attackers.

Human Rights Center Calls on the government to timely investigate similar instances and adequately punish the offenders to stop escalation of violence.

Human Rights Center