Shorena Kakabadze, Kutaisi
Criminal case might be launched against Khatuna Machavariani, former candidate for the Kutaisi City Mayor’s position. Chair of the Women’s Party, who participated in the June 15, 2014 Local Self-Governmental Elections, is sued by her team members.
Member of the Women’s Party and single-seat candidate in local elections Asmat Dvalishvili said Khatuna Machavariani is punishing people because of her failure in elections and does not pay wages to them.
“Election bloc Self-Governance to People, whose member Women’s Party is, is revenging their representatives in election commissions, for their failure in the local elections. Namely, they do not pay wages to them, that is obligatory by the state budget. Khatuna Machavariani, who is leader of the bloc, tries to avoid payment of wages to some people, including the single seat candidates of the block. Thus she is misappropriating huge amount of money. We intend to appeal the court and restore justice,” Asmat Dvalishvili’s lawyer Nikoloz Kankava said.
He clarified that the former candidate is breaching the law and her action is punishable by imprisonment from 7 to 11 years.
In the pre-election period, Khatuna Machavariani had two contact phone numbers. After elections both numbers are off and victimized people do not know how to contact her. Humanrights.ge could not contact Khatuna Machavariani for the same reason.