"European Georgia" claims pressure on voters in Tbilisi

Opponents hinder the placement of campaigning materials in the Mtatsminda District, where the second round of parliamentary elections will take place on June 9, activist of the "European Georgia" Party report, asserting that the authorities are even using released prisoners to exert pressure on voters.

The authorities did not allow the opposition to hang up posters in the Mtatsminda Constituency campaigning to vote for Shalva Shavgulidze, the candidate from the "European Georgia", Elene Khoshtariya, an MP from the party, said on air of the "Rustavi-2" TV Company. According to her story, competitors tried to remove the posters.

"The 'Georgian Dream' has crossed the moral barrier and began bargaining with people with disabilities ... The government has threatened them that if they vote 'incorrectly', they will lose their social assistance," Ms Khoshtariya has stated.

According to Giga Bokeriya, one of the leaders of the "European Georgia", the "Georgian Dream" "is trying to use the situation of prisoners and their family members" to mobilize voters in favour of Lado Kakhidze, its candidate.

In his turn, Beka Davituliani, the chairman of the "Georgian Dream" faction, has accused Bokeriya of slander, the "Rustavi-2" reports.

For the "Georgian Dream", a defeat at elections is a tragedy; and the party uses all means to achieve the goal, said Tornike Sharashenidze, a political analyst.