GYLA continues observing the course of the polling day.
During the last couple of hours, the GYLA observers have identified the following violations:
Alleged bribery of voters
Throughout the whole day, several pieces of information were disseminating on the alleged bribery of voters.
Alleged bribery of voters by the representatives of the “Georgian Dream” was identified. The GYLA observer witnessed the fact of giving the money to a lady and asking her to circle number “41”. We believe this fact contains elements of crime and it is important that the relevant measures are taken.
Threat and obstruction of the work of the observer
The chairperson of Telavi #45 precinct verbally assaulted the GYLA observer and threatened by removing him/her from the polling station in case of filling the complaint.
Beating the “United National Movement” supporters
The media disseminated information that father and a son, supporters of the “United National Movement” were physically assaulted in Tbilisi. These persons were observing the polling process at Saburtalo #48 precinct.
The GYLA representatives double checked this information and as the victims have stated they were followed by 4 cars after leaving the electoral precinct. They were beaten up when reaching the house. The Patrol Police was mobilized. Investigation was launched into the battery ( article 125 of the criminal code).
We believe the fact was not given the right qualification and it would have been right to launch investigation into the special provision which envisages battery or other type of violence at the adjacent territory of the precinct.
Culpable non-performance or improper performance of the official duties by the commission members
Culpable non-performance of the official duty by the commission member was revealed at Saburtalo precinct #32. More specifically, the number of given ballot papers did not equal to the number of the signatures in the voter list.
Supposedly more than 10 extra ballot papers were handed. The GYLA observer wrote a complaint and requested the termination of the polling process. The complaint was not satisfied and the polling process continued.
While returning the mobile ballot box at Senaki #2 precinct, it turned out that the number of ballot papers were less than ones given to the accompanying commission members.
The chairperson of the Nadzaladevi district was present at the precinct #80 and threatened the chairperson of the precinct: “ There should be no noise of even fly or I will cut your heads.”
There were 3 instances at the Marneuli #3 precinct when the respective section of the summary protocol to be signed by a voter was already signed
The citizen was allowed to vote without a refugee certificate at the Gldani precinct #16
A registrar signed instead of the voter at the Rustavi precinct #41
The registrar gave extra ballot papers to the voter at the Senaki precinct #7
Agitation at the precinct
An agitation by the observer of “Center for Freedom and Equality” in favor of the United National Movement was revealed at Gardabani precinct #1
Confrontation fact
The confrontation fact between the deputy Chairperson and the representative of the Free Democrats took place. The verbal confrontation was caused by the fact of municipality member speaking with the chairperson outside the precinct. The representative of the electoral subject stressed that this was a procedural violation. This remark was followed by verbal assault in the precinct as well as outside.
Unauthorized person at the polling station
A policeman was present at the precinct in the village Nasakirali. After GYLA observer inquiring the bases of his presence, the policeman left the territory.
Violations concerning the polling process
2 persons voted together at Rustavi precinct #20.
Violations revealed by the observers of the Public Movement “Multinational Georgia” representatives within the framework of GYLA project[1] on realisation of suffrage
The registrar at Tetritskkaro #69 tore off the ballot paper so that the electoral subject “Country for the people” was no longer visible. The observer of the Public Movement “Multinational Georgia” filed a complaint which was satisfied and the registrar was changed. Accordingly the polling process continued without violations.
By now the GYLA observers filed 100 complaints and made 72 entries (remarks) in the log-book.
From its foundation (1994) GYLA observes the elections of the legislative, executive and judiciary branches as well as local governance actively and tries to contribute to conducting the election in the calm, fair environment and observance of the respective legislation.
On 8 October GYLA will monitor the Election Day in Tbilisi and in 9 regions with the help of 500 observers.
400 observers are deployed in 400 precincts throughout Georgia. The mobile groups are covering 61 districts. GYLA monitors the elections in the precincts set up in exceptional cases and in the problematic ones[2] as well identified as such during the pre-election period. Also, monitoring will be conducted in the districts inhabited mainly by the minorities together with the observers of the Public Movement “Multinational Georgia” representatives. This is carried out within the framework of the GYLA programme aiming at exercising the suffrage of the ethnical minorities.[3]
There will be a hotline working during the Election Day at GYLA where the citizens can get a legal advice regarding the polling procedures. Also hot line will work for the journalists and media organisations through which they can obtain interesting information and legal consultations concerning the polling procedure, violations and possible measures. Moreover they will have a possibility to report on any violation.
Hot line: 223-63-48
During the Election Day GYLA will collect the information through its electoral-analytical database and will analyse it with the help of the analytics and observers deployed throughout Georgia.
Also during the polling day, you can visit www.electionsportal.ge to get a comprehensive information regarding the violations. You can also report a problem or violation through the online form or sms free of charge to the number 90039.
The next press conferences will take place at 21:00. GYLA will evaluate the Election Day and will held a press conference on 9 October at 12:00
GYLA’s election observation mission was made possible with the help of funding of the Embassy of Great Britain, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and USAID and the Open Society Georgia Foundation. The views expressed in the statements might not represent the ones of the donor organizations.
[1]The project is impelemeted within the framework of the programme finances by USAID
[2] These precincts were identified by the GYLA observers based on the results of the previous elections
[3] The programme is implemented with the support of USAID
