By 15:00 GYLA observers have identified the following violations: 

 

 

At the precinct #32 of the Zugdidi district, at approximately 07:30, during the opening of the polling station, it was revealed that the precinct election commission was not properly equipped. Specifically, the commission did not have the seals with individual numbers, which are necessary for sealing the basic and the mobile ballot boxes prior to starting the ballot-casting process. The precinct election commission sealed the basic and the mobile ballot boxes with the plain paper instead. The precinct election commission has explained that they had lost the seals. 

 

Following remarks of GYLA observer, the precinct election commission has tried to solve the problem; the commission has suspended the procedures and requested the district to provide the individually numbered seals. After the seals were delivered, the basic and the mobile ballot boxes were sealed again with the newly delivered seals. 

 

At the precincts #4 and #52 of the Dusheti district, the logbooks were not properly sealed: at the mentioned precincts the sealing papers did not have the signatures of the district election commission chairperson and the secretary; the sealing papers did not also have the district election commission stamp. 

 

At the precinct #4 of the Dusheti district, the CEC-prescribed rules of filling out the ballots were not  placed at the polling station. Following the remark by GYLA observer the mentioned problem was solved. The precinct election commission has placed the rules of filling out the ballots at the visible spot. 

 

Prior to opening the polling station of the precinct #1 of the Akhalkalaki district, the precinct election commission members have conducted the procedure of casting of lots in the non-official language of the state. Following the remark by the GYLA observer, the casting of lots’ procedure was conducted in the Georgian language. 

At the polling station #34 of the Kobuleti district, the representative of the electoral subject – “United National Movement” was present, despite being an unauthorized person to represent  the electoral subject at the polling station. Following the remark of the GYLA observer, the precinct election commission chairperson requested the individual to leave the polling station. 

 

 

At the precinct #1 of the Akhalkalaki district, at 08:50, one of the registrators has made a signature in the graph intended for the voter (in the voters’ list) by accident. Following the remark by GYLA observer, the problem was resolved. The voter has made a signature in the remaininng space of the graph in the voters’ list, while the registrator has written an explanation statement on the issue. 

 

At the polling station of the precinct #34 of the Kobuleti district, the representatives of the electoral subjects “Salome Zourabichvili – the Way of Georgia” and “Georgian Dream” were present. As it has turned out, the right of the representatives has expired on June 20. Following the remark of the GYLA observers the precinct election commission has requested both persons to leave the polling station. 

 

At the precinct #32 of the Zugdidi district there was an attempt of the Internally Displaced Person (IDP) to vote without an IDP card, which was prevented as a result of the remark by the GYLA observer. 

 

At the precinct #22 of the Khoni district, as the mobile ballot box has returned to the polling station it was revealed that one signature was lacking in the mobile ballot box list. In relation to this, the precinct election commission members (tasked with supervising/following the mobile ballot box) have mentioned that they have missed the signature of one voter. GYLA filed a complaint in this regard. 

 

 

At the adjacent territory of the precinct #22 of the Khoni district, the supporters of various electoral subjects are gathered – approximately, up to 300 persons. We would like to remind you that on June 15, during the vote count and the results’ summarizing, unknown persons have broken into the polling station of the precinct #22; the unknown persons have raided the polling station and broken the elecotoral ballot box. GYLA has publicized the special statement regarding this fact and has called upon the law-enforcement bodies to immediately respond. 

 

 

By now GYLA observers have written total of two (2) complaints and made seven (7) remarks in the logbooks on the above violations. In all of the seven cases the remarks of the GYLA observers were taken into the consideration, so the complaints were not submitted. 

 

It should be mentioned that the repeat elections are being conducted on the 14 precincts; at the six (6) of those precincts the repeat elections are being conducted due to the upheld complaints of GYLA. 

On the election day the special hotline operates in GYLA, which gives the citizens a possibility to receive the legal consultations on the election day procedures. 

The hotline number is: 218-26-11

 

In addition, on the election day the hotline for journalists and media organizations operates in GYLA. By calling the number 230-61- 63 the journalists and media organizations have a possibility of receiving an information interesting to them and the legal consultation on the electoral procedures, election day violations and the ways to respond to them; they also have an opportunity to inform us of the violations that they have identified on the election day.  

 

 

GYLA Local Self-Government Election and Post-Election Observation Mission was made possible with the support of the American people through funding of the “United States Agency for International Development” (USAID). The opinions expressed in the statement belong to the „Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association“ and may not represent those of the USAID or the Government of the United States.