Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti
On April 22, 2010, chairman of the parliament of Georgia Davit Bakradze warned public servants not to participate in the pre-election campaign or they would be punished under the law. Despite that, according to the non-governmental organizations, the representatives of the opposition parties in the regions are still compelled to participate in the elections; activists and supporters of the opposition parties are threatened. In addition to that, the candidates of the ruling party massively misuse administrative resources.
Refusal on Participation in the Elections
Former Dedoplistskaro district governor Gela Iakobashvili was compelled to refuse participation in the elections. He was candidate of the Christian-Democrat Party in the village of Tsiteltskaro. The villagers confirmed that while checking the election lists the representatives of the Christian-Democrat Party told them their candidate was Gela Iakobashvili. The head of the district organization of the political party Goderdzi Abulashvili also confirms the information. He said it was finally agreed that Iakobashvili was a candidate of their party in Tsiteltskaro village but finally he refused. “I intended to be a candidate but I changed my mind. Why? I decided so,” said Gela Iakobashvili.
It is noteworthy that in 2007 court imposed 5-year-long suspended sentence on Iakobashvili for abusing his power. He has served only three years. The Election Code of Georgia does not prohibit the convicted in suspended sentence to participate in the elections, however, as the Human Rights Center was reported, Iakobashvili was warned about additional problems unless he canceled his candidature. “He refused to participate in the elections based on his own decision. He did not tell me the real reason. Maybe, he was oppressed. Iakobashvili was real candidate,” said Goderdzi Abulashvili.
According to the non-governmental organization Transparency International – Georgia, as a result of the oppression from Kvareli district governor and head of police department the candidates from the villages of Akhalsopeli and Mtisdziri also canceled their candidatures. The National Council had list of 11 candidates in Kvareli district. Canceling two candidates was enough to abolish the whole list. In accordance to the Article 118 Part III of the Election Code, political parties cannot participate in the elections with the list of 9 members only. Consequently, the National Council does not have candidates in Kaverli district.
Head of Akhmeta district organization of the Movement for the Just Georgia Shota Kavtarashvili was compelled to stop political activities and leave the Noghaideli’s Party by the deputy chairman of the municipality board and commissary of the village Duisi. They visited Kavtarashvili at home and threatened him during 30 minutes; after their visit Kavtarashvili needed medical assistance of the emergency service.
Since the second half of April, pupils of the high school in the village of Zemo Alvani have been oppressed. More precisely, district organization of the Alliance for Georgia blames the candidate of the United National Movement in the village of Zemo Alvani Beso Kizilashvili in the oppression on the pupils of the high school. Beso Kizilashviloi is a specialist of the military recruitment agency in the district and is on holiday now; however, he misuses his power and oppresses adults. He threatens them with recruitment unless they vote for the National Movement; after recruitment the adults will not be able to enter the universities,” said Zaza Lagazidze – representative of the Alliance for Georgia.
A pupil of the public school in Zemo Alvani village anonymously confirmed the information in private conversation with the TI-Georgia. He said Kizilashvili warned several pupils together.”
Mixed Up Party and State Resources
On May 4, population of Gurjaani was waiting for the single social allowance in the building of the district administration. Interim district governor, deputy district governor Goga Petruzashvili could not meet every citizen. Thus, part of the people was sent to the district office of the United National Movement. At the office, the citizens were assisted by the employees of the district administration; more precisely, the officials listened to their problems, promised assistance and helped people to write applications to the interim district governor. Several of them stated anonymously that officials suggested the socially disabled people to vote for the ruling party and in exchange they were promised financial assistance.
It was reported on April 27, that Sagarejo district former governor Gia Chalatashvili, Lagodekhi district former governor Gia Gozalashvili and Dedoplistskaro district former governor Levan Baghashvili resigned on April 15. Gurjaani district former governor Giorgi Chiviashvili resigned on April 26. The former three governors participate in the municipality elections; the forth one participates in the medieval parliamentary elections. All four are members of the National Movement. Despite that, on April 27, Sagarejo district former governor visited Manavi village where houses were damaged by landslide after heavy rains. He travelled to the village by the office car and gave directions to the officials of the district administration. On May 3, the other former governors also continued to use corporative mobile-phones.
False Promises
In order to react on the violations during the pre-election campaign in Georgia the inter-institutional and inter-fraction groups are working on the state level. The inter-institutional group is staffed by the governmental officials; inter-fraction group is staffed by the MPs. On May 8, the inter-institutional group met the representatives of the monitoring organizations to receive information about the violations they have observed. Program director of the TI-Georgia Nina Khatiskatsi stated that the group members made notes of the violations and promised to react on them immediately.
On May, after the inter-institutional commission finished the meeting, the group member – deputy minister of internal affairs Eka Zghuladze said that “misuse of the administrative resources during elections is illegal and regional and district governors have received directives about it.”
“We are mostly focused on the prevention of the misuse of administrative resources by the public servants. In this direction, based on the recommendation of the inter-institutional group, local governments throughout Georgia already received directives. Regional and district governors and other officials can participate in the election process but not at the expense of the state budget thus they shall resign or go on holidays. Misuse of the administrative resources – such as offices, cars and local budget – is strictly controlled,” said Zghuladze.
According to the official data, since April 12, 2010 nobody has been punished for the misuse of the administrative resources yet.
On April 15, 2010, during the official visit in the USA, the president of Georgia replied to the question about the municipal elections: “…We are going to use all kind resources to improve the life of people even if they accuse us in the misuse of the administrative resources. Yes, we misuse the administrative resource but we are doing it anyway; and I think it is legal.”
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