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TSU student organization appeal to media and NGOs

May 13, 2008

On the 8th of May 2008, marks the second year when self-governing student elections were conducted at Tbilisi State University.  Two major student organizations stood in the recently held elections: “United Student Movement” and “Free Student Organization”.
We want to inform you that the University’s Central Election Commission, CEC, was mainly represented by the members of National Movement’s satellite non-governmental organization “New Generation, New Initiative”.
We declare with full responsibility that elections were unfairly conducted and there were many electoral violations. Such violations were noted both from the side of the university’s administration and the side of the student’s CEC, namely: students’ unified voting lists were drawn up (composed) with gaps. Consequently many students were unable to vote. Lists were compiled by the students that had already graduated, which has decreased the chances that the elections could be rigged. Regardless, there were large gaps in the list of students who attend the courses.
It is especially interesting to note that the majority of the regional electoral commission was represented by self-government organization’s members, which is a direct violation because the self-government is presented in this process as a side.
The “United Student Movement “, which is identified with the ruling governmental political party and carries the National Movement’s interests at the University, was using all governmental and university resources and that is why other election participants were in unequal position. Yellow busses were used for their pre-election interests, which belong to Tbilisi Municipality. Moreover, other materials used for electoral propaganda were paid for by the government.
Tbilisi State University’s administration was active in creating unequal conditions for all election participants except the “United Student Movement”.
During the pre-election period, several acts of violence took place. This was believed to be a method used to frighten students into voting for the “United Student Movement”. The party began suppressing voters and carried out such violations when an election was held for the chairperson and deputy 20 minutes later in the election districts.
On Election Day, the “United Student Movement” was actively agitating the situation, and there were violating Georgian legislation.
Furthermore, there were several legislative violations in the process of ballot counting, the main one being that organization representatives were not provided with a final report.
These violations are just the tip of the iceberg that destroyed the chances for free and fair self-governmental elections to take place. “The CEC falsified the elections, and announced that the “United Student Movement” had won.
We address you to react to these gross violations, and request that additional information be obtained from various media organizations in learning how to react to such violations. 
Our major demand is to reschedule for a second time self-government student elections, and under conditions when all those standing in the elections have the opportunity to stand under equal conditions.


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