The News in Brief
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Prepared by Messenger Staff
Tbilisi City Court Denies Appeals for Additional Polling Stations Abroad, Sparking Outrage
On September 30, the Tbilisi City Court ruled inadmissible three appeals against the Central Election Commission's (CEC) decision to open only a limited number of polling stations abroad. This decision came despite requests from emigrants to increase the number of polling stations in cities like Spain, Italy, France, and the U.S.
The appeals were initiated by the United National Movement, represented by Tamar Kordzaia, the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, and former judge Beso Alavidze. ISFED lawyer Rati Tinikashvili criticized the ruling, stating, "The [Court's] rulings question the principles of elections such as universality and equality," and indicated plans to appeal to the Appeals Court.
Opposition member of the CEC, Ana Kobakhidze, claimed the decision deprives 90% of immigrants of their voting rights and expressed concerns about the adequacy of existing polling stations. She stated there is no legal recourse left to address the issue and called for a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for clarification.
Kordzaia condemned the ruling as politically motivated, asserting that all branches of government are complicit in fulfilling "Bidzina Ivanishvili's task."
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze Says He No Longer Trusts European Banks Due to 'Robbery' of Bidzina Ivanishvili
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and General Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, has stated that he no longer keeps his finances in European banks, citing a lack of trust due to their alleged treatment of former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.
In response to a journalist's question about why he no longer holds funds in European banks, Kaladze referred to Ivanishvili's experience as a key reason. "Don't worry about my finances. The reality is in front of you-look at the attitude of foreign banks towards Bidzina Ivanishvili-they robbed him. A person who has won all kinds of lawsuits will not get their money back. This is a political decision," said Kaladze.
He added that such treatment has undermined his own confidence in European banks. "Why should I keep my money there? What is their attitude towards Bidzina Ivanishvili, and what did they do to him, right? They robbed him, in the full sense of the word, and why should I trust them? Of course, I don't trust them," he concluded.
Tbilisi City Court Denies Appeals for Additional Polling Stations Abroad, Sparking Outrage
The appeals were initiated by the United National Movement, represented by Tamar Kordzaia, the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, and former judge Beso Alavidze. ISFED lawyer Rati Tinikashvili criticized the ruling, stating, "The [Court's] rulings question the principles of elections such as universality and equality," and indicated plans to appeal to the Appeals Court.
Opposition member of the CEC, Ana Kobakhidze, claimed the decision deprives 90% of immigrants of their voting rights and expressed concerns about the adequacy of existing polling stations. She stated there is no legal recourse left to address the issue and called for a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for clarification.
Kordzaia condemned the ruling as politically motivated, asserting that all branches of government are complicit in fulfilling "Bidzina Ivanishvili's task."
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze Says He No Longer Trusts European Banks Due to 'Robbery' of Bidzina Ivanishvili
In response to a journalist's question about why he no longer holds funds in European banks, Kaladze referred to Ivanishvili's experience as a key reason. "Don't worry about my finances. The reality is in front of you-look at the attitude of foreign banks towards Bidzina Ivanishvili-they robbed him. A person who has won all kinds of lawsuits will not get their money back. This is a political decision," said Kaladze.
He added that such treatment has undermined his own confidence in European banks. "Why should I keep my money there? What is their attitude towards Bidzina Ivanishvili, and what did they do to him, right? They robbed him, in the full sense of the word, and why should I trust them? Of course, I don't trust them," he concluded.