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Statement of NGOs – We request adequate reaction to the facts of hindered activities of election observers

October 24, 2016
 
We, the election observation organizations, express concern about the facts of hindering the work of election observers, their verbal and physical assault on October 8, the Parliamentary Election Day. We call on the law enforcement bodies to conduct timely and effective investigation to identify harassers and hold them responsible under the law.

Verbal and physical assault of the observers from international observation organization

Unidentified persons raided Zugdidi precinct # 79 and verbally and physically assaulted three representatives of the international observation organization Norwegian Helsinki Committee, who tried to video-record the incident by mobile phones. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association defends the rights of the victimized observers. Police failed to adequately respond to the violence facts in Zugdidi municipality precincts # 79 and 108. Additional police forces were deployed on the sites only after the incidents.

Physical assault on the observer of Human Rights Center 

The observer of Human Rights Center Giorgi Tkebuchava was monitoring October 8, 2016 Parliamentary Elections in Keshalo village precinct #37 in Marneuli DEC #35, where he was verbally and physically assaulted by the PEC chairman Payaz Veliyev and his deputy Saamed Gajyev. 

The observer from the Multinational Georgia video-recorded the incident. The footage shows how Saamed Gajyev, the deputy chairman was shouting at the observer of Human Rights Center and pushes him with hands. 

Human Rights Center called police to the precinct #37. Afterwards the witnesses were interrogated in Algeti police office. According to the police statement, the investigation started under article 1621 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which implies: “violence or threat of violence in the polling station, in or near the location of the commission members, during pre-election propaganda or campaign”. 

On the second day expertise was conducted on Giorgi Tkebuchava’s injuries. Despite that the observer still does not have victim status and the alleged perpetrators are not held responsible. 

It is alarming that the Central Election Commission has not responded to the incident and has not commenced administrative procedures against the chairman and deputy chairman of the PEC #37. 

Facts of hindering the work of GYLA’s observers

Aggressive attitude and facts of hindering the work of election observers on the Election Day were also alarming; these facts shall be adequately responded.
For example, in the process of votes counting and summarizing ballot results, Zugdidi precinct # 108 was raided that created threats to the people present inside the precinct including GYLA’s observers. The observers left the polling station through window. GYLA’s observer faced problems in Mtatsminda district precinct # 24, Tbilisi. The commission members did not allow him into the precinct and unidentified people outside the premise forced him to leave the area. Although the GYLA’s observer called police, the police officers tried to take him away from the polling station instead defending his rights.

We, the observation organizations, request:

It is responsibility of the election administration to ensure free and secure working environment for the observers. Thus, the CEC shall promptly respond to the violence facts against election observers and take administrative measures against the election commission members, who allegedly caused the incidents; 

The investigative bodies shall promptly and effectively investigate the fact of verbal and physical assault of the observers of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and Human Rights Center, and punish alleged perpetrators. 

  • Human Rights Center
  • Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association
  • Public Advocacy
  • Public Movement Multinational Georgia 
  • International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy
  • International Center for Civil Culture
  • Development and Democracy Center 

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