Opposition says gov’t exercises pressure on prisoners ahead Mtatsminda MP election
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Wednesday, June 5
The European Georgia parliamentary opposition says that the Georgian Dream ruling party is exercising pressure on prisoners and their families to win the June 9 second round of Mtatsminda MP Elections, for the seat which became vacant after election of Salome Zourabichvili as President of Georgia last year.
The Georgian Dream ruling party candidate, doctor Lado Kakhadze and a joint candidate of the European Georgia and Free Democrats, lawyer, Shalva Shvagulidze run in the second round for Mtatsminda MP, a district in central Tbilisi, as none of them were able to receive at least 51 percent of votes in the May 19 by-elections.
Giga Bokeria, a leader of the European Georgia, stated that a police official Mikheil Baramidze “is coordinating the pressure.”
Bokeria said that Shavgulidze was informed about the issue, adding that he was ready to provide details to law enforcement agencies.
David Matikashvili from the Georgian Dream ruling party says that the statement is false, “aiming to discredit the election process.”
He stated that the opposition failed to provide evidence proving the allegations.
Expert in political issues Vakhtang Dzabiradze says that the opposition should provide proof if they have such.
Fellow analyst David Sakvarelidze believes that Kakhadze has higher chances than Shavgulidze anyway in the race.
Expert Tornike Sharashenidze states that the Georgian Dream will use all its levers to win the race.
Kakhadze received 41 percent of votes in the first round, while Shavgulidze-38.83 percent.
In the May by-elections, the Georgian Dream ruling party won the race for mayors in five cities, as well as seats in eight city assemblies, defeating all opposition opponents.
The opposition said that the government used its financial and other resources “to fabricate the elections before the election day.”
NGOs and observers stated that no significant violations took place during the elections.
