Georgian MIA reports on eight criminal cases on election incidents

Eight criminal cases have been initiated in connection with the incidents that occurred during the voting at the second round of municipal elections, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has reported. The NGOs "Transparency International" and the "Georgian Young Lawyers' Association" (GYLA) have filed 32 complaints with the Central Election Commission (CEC).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 30, Georgia held the second round of voting at elections to local self-governments. Even prior the end of voting, the head of the ruling "Georgian Dream" Party announced the victory of the party's candidates at mayoral elections in all 20 municipalities.

The Georgian MIA has initiated eight criminal about interferences into journalists' work, violence and property damage, and detained one person due to the incidents that occurred on the day of the second round of municipal elections, the MIA's spokesman, Ketevan Kovziashvili, has informed.

In the course of the seconds round, the NGO "Transparency International-Georgia" recorded up to 100 minor and rather serious; 15 complaints were submitted. The NGO has noted that an essential violation was the registration of voters who came to polling stations, which was undertaken for the sake of controlling the voters' will.

In its turn, the GYLA has stated that its observers faced obstacles both from members of election commissions and from other observers.

The pressure was also put on journalists. "On several occasions, journalists were verbally and physically abused while covering the events and were not allowed to freely perform their professional duties," the GYLA has stated.

Its observers have submitted 17 complaints and nine remarks.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 30, 2021 at 10:59 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.