Acts of Physical Violence and Political Pressure in ISFED’s Sixth Interim Report
The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) continues monitoring pre-election campaign of October 27, 2013 presidential elections and presents sixth and final interim report of the monitoring. The report covers violations of election laws during the period from October 7 through October 24, 2013, as well as information about pre-election campaign events and promises.
During the reporting period political parties and candidates held 377 meetings, majority of which (199 meetings) were held by the coalition Georgian Dream, followed by the United National Movement (85 meetings), the Democratic Movement – Unified Georgia (76 meetings) and other parties.
“Observers have reported to acts of political pressure and threats against member of Sakrebulo in Tskaltubo from the United National Movement and one of the supporters of the United National Movement. Observers also reported three acts of physical assault on political grounds against members of the UNM and the coalition Georgian Dream, as well as three activists of the United Georgia – Democratic Movement,” – says Nino Lomjaria, ISFED’s Executive Director.
The report also contains information about election campaign posters destroyed intentionally. In particular, Davit Bakradze’s posters were torn down in Batumi, village of Bakurtsikhe in Gurjaani District and Lanchkhuti.
Abuse of administrative resources was reported at Giorgi Margvelashvili’s pre-election meeting in Poti attended by municipal officials during working hours, as well as in Shuakhevi where majoritarian MP of Batumi was agitating in favor of the coalition Georgian Dream’s candidate during an event funded by the municipality budget.
Pre-election campaign was conducted in violation of applicable regulations by the coalition Georgian Dream’s candidate in Batumi and Poti.
Reports of violations are available at http://electionsportal.ge