Pre-Election Violations amid Active Election Campaigning (Press Release)
Pre-Election Violations amid Active Election Campaigning (Press Release)
ISFED presents fifth interim report of pre-election monitoring of October 27, 2013 Presidential Elections. The report covers violations identified during the period from September 8 through October 6.
“ISFED has found particular growth of the pre-election campaign in intensity. Various political parties and candidates held 253 public meetings, which is approximately three times more than the number of public meetings held over the last month,” – says Nino Lomjaria, Executive Director of ISFED.
Fifth interim report reflects five acts of pressure identified during the reporting period, physical assault on political grounds as well as three facts that involve obstruction of pre-election campaigning.
ISFED has found six cases that involved the use of public resources in favor of the Georgian Dream’s candidate and two cases that involved the use of public resources in favor of the candidate of the United National Movement.
Notwithstanding the recommendation adopted by the Inter-Agency Task Force, staff changes in self-government authorities continued. In particular, during the reporting period Gamgebelis were replaced in 5 municipalities, Sakrebulo Chairperson was dismissed in 1 municipality and one Mayor resigned.
“ISFED is also monitoring operations of the Central Election Commission and believes that the CEC should abolish prior to the presidential elections or comprehensively revise the 2012 resolution about photo and video shooting at election precincts on the Polling Day” – says Nino Janashia, ISFED’s lawyer.
During the reporting period the Inter-Agency Task Force for Free and Fair Elections published a report of its activities. Notably, the report did not include a number of problematic issues presented by ISFED to the IATF.
Information about violations is available at: http://electionsportal.ge
Publishing this report was made possible with the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI). The contents of the report belong solely to ISFED and do not necessarily reflect the views of NDI, USAID or the United States Government