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Incident in Sobisi – UNM Supporter Was Beaten

October 30, 2016
 
Lado Bitchashvili, Shida Kartli

Supporter of the United National Movement was physically assaulted in Kvemo Sobisi village, Gori municipality. Albert Merebashvili has injuries on the face. He blames Koba Berianidze, member of the Gori municipal board from the Georgian Dream, in his physical assault. As Merebashvili said he was beaten because of his political views.

“Having arrived at the polling station the municipal board member Koba Berianidze asked me to sit in his car, where he started insulting me. He was asking why I supported the UNM and then insulted me. He called me “metsotskhe” (broom-holder) and beat. His allies also beat me – about 10-15 persons attacked me,” Albert Merebashvili said.

Georgian Dream’s Gori office representatives responded to the incident in Sobisi village and said the UNM supporter had provoked the incident.

“This person verbally insulted our supporters in the polling station. Our members tried to be quiet but Merebashvili started insulting people gathered near the precinct that turned into a quarrel. However, the incident finished soon. It was a provocation. As for the municipal board member, I can assure you that he did not participate in this incident,” executive secretary of the Georgian Dream’s Gori office Gela Kapanadze said.

PEC chairwoman in the Sobisi village polling station # 45 Nunu Tsertsvadze said Albert Merebashvili really broke into the precinct and insulted GD’s members but in that moment he was already beaten. 

“When he entered the polling station he was all in mud. He verbally insulted the GD members in the commission. When we asked him to calm down, he left the precinct but returned soon and continued insulting. Afterwards we called police. As for the physical assault, it happened outside the polling station,” Nunu Tsertsvadze said.

Police started investigation under Article 155 of the Criminal Code of Georgia in the incident. The investigators have already questioned Albert Merebashvili.

UNM members say the Georgian Dream and their single mandate candidate Khubuluri lost elections in the first round of the parliamentary elections on October 8 and the ruling party tries to mobilize their supporters in Sobisi.  

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