Incident in the campaign office of Levan Gogichaishvili, Georgian Dream’s majoritarian candidate

On September 19, Irakli Kobakhidze, Executive Secretary of Georgian Dream, made a statement that, in the early morning of September 19, activists of the United National Movement – two of whom were representatives of the campaign headquarters of Sevdia Ugrekhelidze – had entered the campaign office of Levan Gogichaishvili, a majoritarian candidate of Georgian Dream, wearing Georgian Dream T-shirts and carrying firearms. According to Mr. Kobakhidze, the said individuals intended to make a video that would show that people with criminal mentality gathered in the Georgian Dream headquarters. The Executive Secretary of Georgian Dream also stated that activists of Georgian Dream who were at the headquarters called the police and the police studied the situation on the ground.    

On the same day, Sevdia Ugrekhelidze, the UNM’s majoritarian candidate in the Saburtalo District, responded to the statement, assessing Mr. Kobakhidze’s statement as a false accusation. Ms. Ugrekhelidze stated that the aforementioned persons had been dismissed from the headquarters and that they had no connection with the UNM when they committed the said act.

Later, the media reported that the Ministry of Internal Affairs had launched an investigation into the said act under Part 2, Article 236 of the Criminal Code (illegal purchase, storage and carrying  of firearms), though the Ministry has not released an official statement regarding this issue.    

In connection with the aforementioned, GYLA has released a press statement. We also filed an application in the Interagency Commission for Free and Fair Elections.