District Governors Run Election HQs in Kakheti Region

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti

According to the Georgian Election Code, public officials from state and local public agencies cannot take part in the pre-election campaign when they implement their public activities. According to the same code, high-ranking official from the local governmental agency must not use his/her position in favor of any candidate or party during the pre-election campaign. Nevertheless district governors are running election HQs in Kakheti region.

Several days ago, Gia Gozalishvili, Lagodekhi district governor, stated on local TV Station that he stresses on the activities implemented by the ruling party while he meets local population and makes speeches in favor of the National Movement. “I meet district population almost every day. I listen to their problems and tell them the National Movement has done much and if they win in the elections they will do even more,” said Gozalishvili.

-Mr. Gia, are you making announcements in favor of the National Movement when you meet local population?

-No, I am not, I have not said it. I meet population and openly express my favor for the ruling party but only during non-working hours.

- Officially, working day lasts from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.  How do you manage to meet people during extra hours; do you meet them at night or on days-off?

- I do not meet them at night but may be I meet them on the week-end.

-But you are public official and according to the law you must not take part in the pre-election campaign.

-And I do not participate in it.

-You are accompanying Guram Kakalashvili, a single mandate candidate from the National Movement, together with the director of the Resource Center and give promises to teachers; how can you explain it?

-I do not accompany any candidate and neither have I given promises to teachers.

Kakha Labuchidze, Gurjaani District governor, could not deny his participation in the pre-election campaign of the single mandate candidate from the ruling party. He personally introduced Giorgi Ghviniashvili, the candidate, to teachers, personnel of the district administration board and employees of other public agencies in the Gurjaani Culture Center. The district governor was standing on the scene during one hour together with the candidate and was answering the questions of the people. “I, Gurjaani District Governor, promise you that all problems you raised here will be resolved if you vote for Giorgi Ghviniashvili,” said Labuchidze.

Gia Chalatashvili, Sagarejo District Governor, also took part in the pre-election campaign and runs district election HQ of the ruling party. Based on the personal notification, district municipality board temporarily suspended his responsibilities as a district governor.

Representatives of the Human Rights Center are also concerned about the violation of the election code. The organization, which monitors the election process in Kakheti Region, blames Akhmeta, Sagarejo, Kvareli, Lagodekhi and Dedoplistskaro District governors for having breached the Election Code.

“District governors are fully involved in the pre-election campaign. They meet voters together with the members of the ruling party. Moreover, governors monitor the activities of the activists of the party. “We got hold of the document from one of the election HQs of the National Movement. In the document district governors are named as heads of the election HQs and their contact information is provided there,” stated representatives of the Human Rights Center.

They also added that long-term observers of the OSCE Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Office also have similar document; though they have received it from other election HQ of the ruling party.

Representatives of the Kakheti Regional Election HQ of the United National Movement and Regional Administration categorically deny the accusation.

Giorgi Botkoveli, the head of the Kakheti regional election HQ, reported that district governors do not run election HQs. “Lia Mamagulashvili is the head of Akhmeta Election HQ; Levan Jamalashvili runs the Dedoplistskaro HQ; Gocha Shavgulidze runs Kvareli HQ; Gela Gelashvili runs Lagodekhi HQ; Gogita Sibashvili runs Gurjaani HQ; Rezo Benashvili runs Sighnaghi HQ; Gia Papunashvili runs Telavi HQ and Gia Chalatashvili runs Sagarejo HQ. As for the latter, according to the Georgian Law on Public Service, Article 89, Chalatashvili does not assume his responsibility of district governor currently,” said Botkoveli.