Violations during the parliamentary elections
in the Republic of Georgia
1999
PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA
(SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER, 1999)
On October 31, 1999, in Georgia will carry out new
parliamentary elections. It is necessary to note, that right at the begining of
pre-election campaign are fixed the significant infringements of Human Rights
and Basic Freedoms: 1) On October 4, 1999, the Central Election Commission of
the Republic of Georgia (Chairman - Mr. Jumber Lominadze) has decided to forbid
to the citizens of Georgia to be as the international observers on parliamentary
elections (No: 108/1999). On a question of the President of the National Section
of Georgia of the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR-IGFM): "was
guided the Central Electoral Commission by the international norms during
adoption of such decision or not?" the official representative of the Juridical
Department of this Commission, Mrs. Lili Begiashvili has answered: "Yes, the
Commission owed guided by these norms, but it was not guided." Concerning the
International human Rights norms she has told, that these norms "allows the
various approach". The citizens of the Republic of Georgia, which are the
official representatives of the national divisions of the International Human
Rights NGOs, first of all submits to the norms of the International Human Rights
Law and norms of the international documents. The adoption of such decision
concerning the citizens of Georgia of this category is rough infringement of the
mentioned norms.
2) The pre-election campaign of Blocks and parties, on TV is
covered nonuniformly and carries discrimination character: 80% of the
pre-election propaganda broadcasts on TV serves to interests of the "Citizens
Union of Georgia"- party of Mr. E. Shevardnadze.
3) The chairmen of the
Central Election Commission and of almost all District Election Commissions
(with the exception of those District Commissions, which are located in Adjara)
are the representatives of the "Citizens Union".
4) In the Tsalka District
Commission the representatives of the Block "Sakartvelos Agordzineba" ("Revival
of Georgia") on September 26, 1999, revealed the fact of falsification of the
election documents, namely - falsification of the signatures on these
documents.
5) The director of the Tbilisi secondary school No 139 compelled
the passport data of the pupil's parents. The parents become victims of a
psychological terror on the part of management of the school. Them have told,
that if they will not give vote to the "Citizens Union", their children will be
excluded from school.
6) In the 3rd microarea of the Gldani District of
Tbilisi bursted the sewer pipe. The government of the Gldani District declared,
that the sewer pipe will be restored in the event that the inhabitants will give
votes to the "Citizens Union".
7) In Chugureti District of Tbilisi the
representatives of the "Citizens Union" collected the signatures of the voters
and threaten to them, that if they will not give vote for this organization,
they will be expelled from work.
8) On October 6-8, 1999, the Central
Election Commission abolished registration about 500 majority candidates from
oppositional Blocks and parties. Thus, the norms were roughly broken because
this abolishen was adopted after two days all terms were delayed. Under the
decision of the Supreme Court of Georgia the registration of 109 candidates was
not restored.
9) On October 6, 1999, in Tbilisi, have plundered the house of
the Georgian writer and journalist, candidate in the deputies of the parliament
from the Block "Sakartvelos Agordzineba" ("Revival of Georgia"), Dr. Nodar
Koberidze.
10) On October 8, 1999, in Tbilisi, two unfamilar men have rushed
into the house of the Chairman of the Youth Department of the political movement
"Sakartvelos Agordzinebis Kavshiri" ("Union of Revival of Georgia"), candidate
in the deputies, Mr. Sandro Bregadze. They brutally have beaten the mother of
Mr. Bregadze.
11) On October 9, 1999, during the pre-election meeting with
the voters, in city Telavi, Mr. E. Shevardnadze has declared: "If in the new
parliament the majority of places will be received other party, we shall
estimate this fact, as parliamentary revolution. We not allow it and shall make
everithing, that it to not allow".
12) The results of telephone sociological
interrogations of the population in a direct ether of the information program
"Kurieri" of the Independent Telecompany "Rustavi-2" are also remarkable:
On
September 29, 1999, on a question - "Is trusted with you whether or not, what
the parliamentary elections in Georgia will be fair?" answered 11700 spectators:
Yes - 28%, No - 62%, I am not interested - 10%.
13) "The infringements of the
election norms have mass character: the falsification of the election lists,
falsification of the bulletins (under the instruction of the authorities is
printed 2 mln superfluous bulletins)... The pre-election campaign passes in the
very intense situation. The leaders of the opposition and candidates from the
opposition pursue physically that they stopped pre-election campaign. The
prosecutions have the especially expressed character in the small areas."
("Liberation", Paris, October 1, 1999).
14) On October 11, 1999, under the
instruction of present authority of Georgia, at a police post in Chumateleti
(East Georgia) the representatives of the local police absolutely illegally have
detained propaganda buses of the Block "Sakartvelos Agordzineba" ("Revival of
Georgia").
15) On October 13, 1999, after meeting with the voters in the
settlement Pirveli Khorga of the Khobi District (Western Georgia), the
representatives of the "Citizens Union" ruthlessly beaten the independent
candidate, President of the Shartava Fund, Mr. Badri Daraselia. Mr. Daraselia
actively supported the Block "Sakartvelos Agordzineba". Mr. Daraselia in a heavy
condition is in the Khobi regional hospital.
16) On October 15, in Kakheti
(East Georgia), during meeting with the voters, under the instruction of the
local organization of the "Citizens Union" were beaten the representatives of
the Block "Sakartvelos Agordzineba".
17) Chairman of the Central Election
Commission, Mr. J. Lominadze received more than 1500 appeals about rough
infringements during drawing up of the lists of the voters.
18) On October
12, under the instruction of the head of the Administration of the Borjomi
District, in Borjomi have not let the candidates from the Block "Sakartvelos
Agordzineba". The head of the Administration of Borjomi was compelled to tell,
that the administration received the instruction from the governor of the
Samtskhe-Javakheti area.
19) On October 21, at an entrance in Tbilisi, the
representatives of the Tbilisi road police have stopped the propaganda buses of
the Block "Sakartvelos Agordzineba". The policemen have damaged wheels of these
buses. The buses were damaged by children, which worked on behalf of the unknown
persons.
20) The majority of the voters of the city Poti (Western Georgia)
supports the Block "Sakartvelos Agordzineba" - this city does not receive the
electric power.
21) Under the oral instruction of the minister of a defence
of Georgia, Mr. D. Tevzadze, in the military divisions of the Republic of
Georgia of the military men compel to give votes to the candidates from the
"Citizens Union". In default him waits the severe administrative
punishment.
22) On October 18, the police of Tbilisi lawlessly has
confiscated and destroyed a plenty of the pre-election propaganda posters of the
Block "Sakartvelos Agordzineba" ("Revival of Georgia"). It was declared by the
representatives of this Block in Tbilisi - Mr. Melko Rostiashvili and Mr. Giorgi
Sharikadze.
23) On October 21, the police of the Saburtalo District of
Tbilisi illegally has detained the representative of the Block "Sakartvelos
Agordzineba", Mr. Nika Bregvadze. To him have forbidden conduct propaganda for
the benefit of the specified Block.
24) On October 21, in city Zugdidi
(Western Georgia) illegally was arrested the candidate from the Block
"Sakartvelos Agordzineba", Mr. Valerian Tsotseria.
25) On October 11, the
representatives of the police of city Kutaisi (Western Georgia) lawlessly have
arrested the Executive Secretary of the Firm "Aya", Mr. Nugzar Sakvarelidze. Mr.
Sakvarelidze is the close confidant of the candidate from the Block "Sakartvelos
Agordzineba", President of the specified Firm, Mr. Revaz Dvalishvili.
26) On
October 5, "for infringement of rules of road movement" in Kutaisi was arrested
the representative of the Block "Sakartvelos Agordzineba", Mr. Tamaz
Shatirishvili. Mr. Shatirishvili is the close confidant of the candidate from
this Block, Mr.Bondo Shalikiani.
27) On October 13, the representatives of
the police of Kutaisi have arrested and destroyed all circulation of the
newspaper "Sakartvelos Agordzineba" ("Revival of Georgia"). They have arrested
also the propaganda buses of the Block "Sakartvelos Agordzineba".
28) On
October 4, the unfamiliar persons, in the city Chiatura (Western Georgia) from
the automatic weapons have opened fire to the machine, where should sit the
candidate from the Block "Sakartvelos Agordzineba", Mr. Bondo Shalikiani.
Casually in this moment Mr. Shalikiani was not in the machine.
29)On October
6, in Kutaisi, the representatives of the police interrupted a concert of the
known Georgian actors - Mrs. Keti Merkviladze and Mr. Zurab Doidjashvili: the
sponsor of this concert was the Block "Sakartvelos Agordzineba".
30) In the
beginning of October the Chief of the police of the Vani District (western
Georgia) has exempted from the post his assistant, Mr. Tsagareishvili: Mr.
Tsagareishvili is the close friend of the candidate from the Block "Sakartvelos
Agordzineba", Mr. Bezhan Khurtsidze and supporter of this Block.
31) On
October 22-23 the elderly citizens of Georgia have received the letters from the
president of Georgia, chairman of the "Citizens Union of Georgia", Mr. Eduard
Shevardnadze. Mr. Shevardnadze promises the addressees "the light future" and
calls them to give votes to the "Citizens Union".
32) The member of the
"Citizens Union", former deputy of the Parliament of Georgia, Mrs. Rosa
Lordkipanidze during meeting with the voters in the resort city Tskaltubo
(Western Georgia) has distributed to the voters till 25 lari (1 USD=2 lari) for
votes on parliamentary elections.
33) Instead of necessary 5.000.000 lari
(for normal realization of parliamentary elections) the Central Election
Commission received from the budget of Georgia only 2.500.000 lari.
34) To
the known Georgian musician and teacher, one of the most outstanding
representatives of the Human Rights movement in Georgia since 1970, candidate
from the Block "Sakhalkho-Didgori", Mr. Teimuraz Janelidze refuse to give a room
for the meeting with the voters of city Rustavi (East Georgia).
35) In city
Vani (Western Georgia) from a post have removed the Editor-in-Chief of the local
newspaper that his wife is the namesake of the candidate from the Block
"Sakartvelos Agordzineba", Mr. Bezhan Khurtsidze...
36) On October 24, in a
village Velistsikhe (Kakheti, East Georgia) the representatives of the local
police violently have dispersed the voters, which met with the candidate from
the Block "Sakartvelos Agordzineba", Mr. Shota Kitiashvili. The policemen beaten
the driver of the propaganda bus.
37)The "Citizens Union" accepts all
measures for actual submission to this Union and authority of the president
Shevardnadze (chairman of this Union) maximal NGO's. For example, on September
28, 1999, right at the beginning of the pre-election campaign in Georgia, the
"Citizens Union" has arranged meeting with 48 "NGO's" of Georgia. The
participants of this meeting discussed questions of active cooperation of the
NGO's with the "Citizens Union" and government of the country. After the
specified meeting the specified "NGO's" have met with president Shevardnadze and
members of the government. The representatives of these "NGO's" signed the
document on active support to politics of the president. On behalf of the
president in the structure of the government is created the State Coordination
Council of the "NGO's" of Georgia. Today the "Citizens Union" actively uses
these "NGO's" in struggle with other parties and blocks participating in the
parliamentary elections.
38) On October 25, 1999, one week prior to
parliamentary elections, the Central Election Commission of Georgia has lead
illegal "elections" in a high-mountainous village Omalo (East Georgia). On these
"elections" there were no observers, representatives of the blocks and parties
(except for the representatives of the "Citizens Union") and accredited
journalists. As the reason of realization of these "elections" have named
"difficult meteorological condition". In time of this "elections" took place the
roughest infringements: 1) according to the official statistical data, the
general number of the voters in a village Omalo makes 78 men, and in the list of
the voters the names of 116 voters were brought in; 2) The Mission of the OSCE
and Representation of the UN in Georgia were not informed about "elections" in a
village Omalo; 3) on the final act have put round seal of the Board of this
village; 4) a election urn have opened on October 26. Despite of the specified
roughest infr! ingements, the Central Election Commission has left valid the
results of these "elections".
39) On October 12, the representatives of the
police of city Kutaisi illegally have detained and offended the official
propagandists of the Block "Sakartvelos Agordzineba" - Mrs. Madona Akhvlediani
and Mrs. Marina Samarguliani. The policemen ordered to the specified activists
to stop propaganda pre-election activity for the benefit of the specified
Block.
40) The leader of the Rustavi organization of the Block "Sakhalkho
Pronti - Ilia Chavchavadzis Sazogadoeba", candidate from this Block, Mr. Guram
Gogbaidze on October 26 carried out in city Rustavi (East Georgia) pre-election
meeting with the voters. Suddently Mr. Gogbaidze was seized by the
representatives of local police. They have delivered Mr. Gogbaidze in the
Department of police of Rustavi. In some hours it have released.
41) On
October 26, the Vice-president of the Central Election Commission of Georgia,
Mr. Gia Zesashvili and other representatives of the specified commission
expelled from a building of this commission the representatives of the Mission
of the OSCE in Georgia. The members of the Commission categorically have refused
to carry out the official recommendations of the OSCE Mission and rules
specified in the methodical booklet of the OSCE.
42) On October 27 the Chief
of the Department for Information and Public Relations of the Central Election
Commission, Mrs. Nana Saneblidze has offended and with the help of police has
expelled from a building of this Commission of the Member of the National
Section of Georgia of the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR-IGFM),
Ms. Maya Imedadze. Ms. Imedadze should receive accreditation as the special
correspondent of the independent newspaper "Tvaltai".
43) During performance
on the 1st Channel of the Georgian TV, at the presence of the president of
Georgia, the Vice-Governor of the Kakheti Area has declared, that the management
of this area will not admit meeting of the oppositional blocks and parties with
the voters of the Kakheti Area.
44) On October 22 have announced the protest
hunger-strike the candidate from the Block "Sakartvelos Agordzineba", Mr. Valeri
Tsotseria and members of the Union of Revival of Georgia - Mr. Tengiz
Kharchilava and Mr. Alexander Jikia. They were illegally arrested in Zugdidi,
during pre-election propaganda among the population. According to the Law of
Georgia on elections of the parliament of Georgia candidates in the deputies of
the parliament during pre-election campaign and elections are inviolable. Now
the specified persons are in the Isolator No: 4 of Zugdidi.
45) On October
20, for pre-election propaganda for the benefit of the Block "Sakartvelos
Agordzineba" in Zugdidi illegally arrested the member of the Union of Revival of
Georgia, Mr. Igor Tolordava. Mr. Tolordava is in the Isolator No: 4 of
Zugdidi.
46) The requirements of the Law of Georgia about elections of the
parliament of Georgia and International Norms by a management of the ministry of
a defence of Georgia are roughly broken. In the military divisions of Georgia do
not suppose the international and local observers, accredited journalists,
official representatives of the blocks and parties.
47) In those election
districts, where the management of Election Commissions completely is carried
out by the representatives of the "Citizens Union", till the 31st October in the
election districts do not suppose the international and local observers,
official representatives of the blocks and parties and accredited journalists.
For example, such districts in the Sagarejo Area (East Georgia) are the election
districts No: 9 and No: 11.
48) On October 28 the unfamiliar persons from the
automatic weapon have wounded the independent candidate in Kutaisi, Mr. Shota
Sakhundadze. Mr. Sakhundadze was the member of the "Citizens Union", but 8
months ago in a mark of the protest he has left this party.
49) On October
29, during pre-election meetings with the voters in the villages of the Sagarejo
Area the unfamiliar persons have damaged the propaganda bus of the Regional
Staff of the Block "Sakartvelos Agordzineba". As a result of this gangster
attack some representatives of the specified Block and the driver of the
propaganda bus have suffered.
50) The minister of the internal affairs of
Georgia, Mr. Kakha Targamadze and deputy minister, Mr. Jemal Mikeladze issued an
oral order at the meeting of the Ministry Board on October 29, 1999, according
to which all operational and administrative agencies under the command of the
ministry should form special groups and attach them to each particular polling
station in order to conduct "agitation" in favour of the ruling party (the
"Citizens' Union") on the spot. The Ministry Board also appointed the staff and
sheduled the work of the above-mentioned groups. However, the population of the
Republic of Georgia remembers very well what is meant under the word "agitation"
when it is conducted by the forces of the ministry of the internal
affairs.
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN GEORGIA (OCTOBER 31, 1999)
The
parliamentary elections of October 31, 1999 have passed by significant and mass
infringements of international norms. It is necessary to note, that the fruitful
ground for violations is the Law of Georgia about elections of the parliament of
Georgia. On November 1, 1999, on a Press conference, the International Observers
of the Council of Europe have declared, that the specified law does not meet to
the international norms and requirements of the Council of Europe.
About
significant and mass infringements fixed during parliamentary elections in
Georgia, it is necessary to note the following:
1) The roughest violations
have passed in a village Omalo of the Akhmeta District on October 25, 1999.
About this illegal "elections" we already spoke in the review of pre-election
campaign of this report.
2) 1/3 of voters of Georgia not received the
official notice on parliamentary elections.
3) In many election districts the
representatives of the "Citizens' Union" order active propaganda for the benefit
of this party. For example, the similar facts are fixed in the election
districts of the Aspindza area, the Vake area of Tbilisi, the Didube area of
Tbilisi, the Ambrolauri area, the Marneuli area, the Kutaisi area, the Poti
area, the Mtatsminda area of Tbilisi.
4) In many election districts did not
admit the representatives of the oppositional blocks and parties, international
and local observers and accredited journalists. The similar violations are fixed
in the election districts of the Mtatsminda area of Tbilisi, the Isani area of
Tbilisi, the Vake area of Tbilisi, the Bolnisi area, the Tetritskaro area, the
Gardabani area, the Rustavi area, the Sagarejo area, the Senaki area, the
Kutaisi area, the Tkibuli area, the Zugdidi area, the Marneuli area, the
Aspindza area.
5) In many election districts there were armed policemen,
which compelled the voters to give votes for the "Citizens' Union". Such
infringements were fixed in the election districts of the Rustavi area, the
Sagarejo area, the Gori area, the Tkibuli area, the Aspindza area, the Borjomi
area, the Ozurgeti area, the Zugdidi area, the Terjola area.
6) In many
election districts the attempts took place to let in the election urns the false
bulletins. Such violations are fixed in the election districts of the Rustavi
area, the Isani area of Tbilisi, the Vake area of Tbilisi, the Gori area, the
Gurjaani area, the Terjola area, the Zugdidi area, the Tkibuli area, the
Chkhorotskhu area.
7) In many election districts the portable election urns
transfered police without support of the observers. Such infringements are fixed
in the election districts of the Aspindza area, the Ozurgeti area, the Zugdidi
area, the Martvili area, the Samtredia area.
Dr. Levan Z. Urushadze,
President of the National Section of Georgia of the International Society for
Human Rights (ISHR-IGFM), Co-Chairman of the International Association
"CAUCASUS: Ethnic Relations, Human Rights, Geopolitics" (IACERHRG). E-mail:
lur@lycosmail.com, igfmgeorgia@lycosmail.com