Georgian Presidential Elections
Reported violations of election procedures
Data from Observing Headquarter of the Coalition for Democracy
5 January 2008
08:10 –Nana Kakabadze, the coordinator of the observers from the “Former Political Prisoners for Human Rights”, reported that the chairman of the Sarfi polling station # 40 did not let their representatives to interview voters and ordered them to implement exit-polls outside the station.
08:20 - Nana Chapidze, observer for the Human Rights Center, reported there was a police officer present in polling station #50 of the Kutaisi district. According to the explanation given by the chairman of the Precinct Election Commission (PEC), the police officer was there to protect the CCTV camera which monitors the ballot box. Upon the request of several observers, the chairman of the PEC asked the police officer to leave the polling station.
08:30 - The chairman of the PEC of Kardenakhi polling station #32, Shengeli Guliashvili, is influencing independent observers together with other members of the PEC which represent the National Movement. Gela Mtivlishvili, an observer of the Human Rights Center, reported that he was verbally assaulted by PEC members and was asked to leave the polling station. However, he managed to file an official complaint in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the law.
08:30- Ana Loria, representative of the Center for Constitutional Rights, reported that she discovered the following violations at the polling station # 78 of the PEC # 3: there was not a book for remarks at the station; when they brought the book the pages for complaints and remarks started from the page 12 instead of 10; voters received the envelopes together with ballot papers. Commission members are not checking the ballot papers. In addition the polling booth was covered with a thin curtain and was not closed. There were two CCTV cameras in the polling station: one was shooting the polling booth and the second was shooting polling box. Regarding above-mentioned violations complaints were written down on the page 12 of the book of remarks. Sofo Vardiashvili, observer from the Georgian Young Lawyers Association, also signed the book.
08:40 - Gela Mtivlishvili, an observer of the Human Rights Center monitoring several polling station in Kakheti, reported there were several unidentified persons present at one of the polling stations in Gurjaani. Those unidentified individuals were trying to influence members of the PEC, as well independent observers.
08:50 - Nino Andriashvili, an observer of the Human Rights Center reported that in polling station #6 in the Avlebari voting district of Tbilisi, there were unidentified individuals present. Those unidentified individuals were trying to influence members of the PEC, as well independent observers and voters.
09:50 - Gela Mtivlishvili, an observer of the Human Rights Center monitoring several polling stations in Kakheti, reported that due to the heavy snow fall the roads have become slippery which hinders voters and observers in accessing polling stations. Local government has not cleaned the roads.
10:30-According to the mobile observer if the “Centre for Civil Research”, fifty mini-buses are mobilized in the area of Didi Digomi District in Tbilisi.
10:30-Coordinator of the “Center for the Civil Research” reported that an IDP at the Foti District Polling Station # 30 was allowed to take part in the elections without IDP document according to the PEC members’ decision.
10:40-Corridnator of the “Center for the Civil Research” reported that their observers are oppressed at the polling station # 2in Khobi District.
10:45-Mbile observer of the “Center for Civil Research” reported that several mini-buses full of riot policemen are mobilized in Irakli Abashidze Street (near Ici Paris) in Tbilisi.
11:00 - Natia Kaliashvili, an observer of the Human Rights Center monitoring polling station #24 in the Gori district, reported there were two police officers present in the polling station. According to the explanation given by the chairman of the PEC, the police officer was there to protect the CCTV camera which monitors the ballot box. Upon the request of several observers, the chairman of the PEC asked the police officers to leave the polling station.
11:05 - Gela Mtivlishvili, an observer of the Human Rights Center monitoring several polling stations in Kakheti, reported that in Iormugalno in the Sagarejo voting district, the chairman of the PEC, Nari Arakhbediani, and her deputy, Risgan Abasueva, are following voters into the voting booth and requesting them to circle presidential candidate number 5, Mikheil Saakashvili of the National Movement. Mtivlishvili has also received reports of the same occurring in the village of Tivi at polling station #12 in the Kvareli district. Mtivlishvili will follow up on these reports.
11:10 -Nestan Londaridze, an observer of the Human Rights Center, reported that representatives of the National Movement are in the room next to the polling booth in the polling station # 39 of Samgori PEC. The commission members of the polling station and observers from the leading party are consulting with them quite often. When observers made remarks regarding the violation the argument started between them and the commission members. The controversy is still under way (12:00). The situation prevents the voters to take part in the polls.
11:20 -Gela Mtivlishvili, an observer of the Human Rights Center, reported that serious changes were made into the voters’ lists in the Lagodekhi PEC in the evening of January 4. In the morning of January 5, 37 018 voters were registered instead of previous 35 142 voters. As a result of the changes 234 more voters were registered at the polling station # 2; 209 more voters were registered at the polling station # 3; 93 more people will vote at the polling station # 19; 106 more voters will visit polling station # 18; 220 more voters will visit polling station # 26; 134 more voters will visit the polling station # 27; etc.
11:20-Gela Mtivlishvili, an observer of the Human Rights Center reported that completely chaotic is the situation at the polling station # 19 in the village of Kabala in Kakheti region. More precisely: commission members give directions to voters to circle number five on the ballot paper; people take part in the election several times without IDs and passports.
11:25 -Nona Suvariani, an observer of the Human Rights Center reported that two mini-buses are standing near the polling station #26 in Gldani PEC. People sitting in the mini-bus are meeting the voters who approach the polling station and oppress them. Voters claim that those people are members of the National Movement.
12:00 -Observers of the Human Rights Center in Zugdidi reported that voters are not marked in several polling stations in Zugdidi. Commission members stated that batteries of the marking apparatus went flat and do not have spare batteries. Although people are not marked, the polling process is going on.
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