The scale of election violations and the inappropriate response to them show that the “Dream” statements, suggesting the election campaign is taking place in a peaceful and fair environment, are complete lies, – Natia Mezvrishvili, the deputy chairperson of the “Gakharia For Georgia” party, said about the pre-election environment.
She claimed that the election protection team of the “Gakharia for Georgia” party has identified violations that have not been followed by either legal or political response until now.
“We continue to expose the Dream for violations of the law, which creates a violent, unequal and unfair pre-election environment.
“The scale of election violations and the inappropriate response to them demonstrate that the Dream statements, suggesting the election campaign is taking place in a peaceful and fair environment, are complete lies.
“Illegal surveillance during the pre-election campaign in order to intimidate the voters – We obtained dozens of photo-materials that prove that during the election campaign, representatives of Dream from the Social Security Administration, the municipality and the party, were watching us. These persons take photos of voters who have announced themselves at the meeting and then put pressure on them, which directly affects the voter’s announcement at the pre-election meeting and prevents the party from communicating with voters. The evidence was handed over to the observers.
“The election protection team of the party Gakharia for Georgia also revealed violations, which, despite official appeal, have not yet resulted in either a legal or political response from Dream. The tendency of improper response shows that there are no legal mechanisms for protection of elections in the country.
“Persecution on political grounds – At the end of August and beginning of September, on political grounds – due to membership and support of Gakharia – for Georgia – Directors of Senaki and Khoni schools, Shorena Shamatava and Mindia Gvelebiani, and deputy director of Tkibuli school, Nana Ambroladze were released. High-ranking officials of Dream and persons close to them were appointed to the mentioned positions. The evidence was handed over to the observers.
“Violent pre-election environment/threats/pressure – On July 30, 2024, we appealed to the General Prosecutor’s Office to initiate an investigation into the fact that the Speaker of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, had publicly called for violence against the opposition on July 26, with signs of a crime under Article 239 Prima of the Criminal Code. Before the Prosecutor’s Office responded, the threat of the Speaker of the Parliament was realized in Batumi.
“Attempt to disrupt the pre-election campaign – On August 3, 2024, a group of organized, aggressive people, some of whom were in a state of inebriation, tried to disrupt the pre-election campaign of the Gakharia for Georgia party in Batumi. The group that Dream tried to identify as critical citizens turned out to be Dream party activists and civil servants. On August 7, we applied to the Prosecutor’s Office and requested an evaluation of the fact together with the statement of Shalva Papuashvili. The evidence was handed over to the observers;
“Political persecution – On June 7, 2024, we addressed the Batumi organization of the Special Investigation Service with a statement regarding the threat of physical violence and psychological violence against the head of the youth organization of the party Gakharia – for Georgia in Batumi, and one of the organizers of Batumi actions against the Russian law, Mate Tsintsadze, according to Article 156 of the Criminal Code. The evidence was handed over to the observers;
“Prosecution on political grounds – On June 6, 2024, we applied to the Special Investigation Service to initiate an investigation into the threats of physical violence and psychological violence against the representatives of the Gakharia for Georgia party and their family members under Article 156 of the Criminal Code. The evidence was handed over to the observers;
“Persecution on political grounds – On June 6, 2024, we applied to the Personal Data Protection Service about the illegal use of personal data of the representatives of the party Gakharia for Georgia’ and their family members. The evidence was handed over to the observers.
“State institutions have not responded to any of the above-mentioned violations until now.
“The Gakharia for Georgia election protection group will gradually present the facts of voter bribery and intimidation, political persecution, use of administrative resources and other election violations.
“This will convince the public that Georgian Dream attacks observation missions in order to cover up its illegal activities aimed at falsifying the elections,” Mezvrishvili said.
