By 10 am the electoral environment was calm. The majority of the electoral precincts, in which GYLA observed the opening procedures, were opened in a timely manner and were ready for the first voters. Majority of those precincts were properly equipped with electoral materials. As for the violations identified by now: 

 

According to the CEC information, within the period from from 2am to 3am the individuals with masks stole away the electoral ballots at the precinct #16 of the Martvili District. According to the CEC, the repeat elections will be conducted at the mentioned precinct. 

 

Apart from that, the majority of violations related to the procedure of casting of lots and control sheets. In addition, the presence of unauthorized persons, interference in the observation (not letting observers enter the polling stations), refusing to register complaints and other violations were identified at the precincts.

 

 

 

At the precinct #22 of Mtatsminda District, at 07:30 the observers were not allowed to enter the polling stations, based on the argument that observers were late. In addition, observers were not allowed to enter the precinct #1 of the Batumi District during the procedure of casting of lots. After the GYLA observers got involved, the problems were solved at both polling stations. 

 

 

At the precinct #9 of the Isani District, the persons responsible for supervising the mobile box (commission members) were assigned in violation of the procedures. Both of the party-assigned commission members, identified as a result of the casting of lots, refused to follow the mobile box. The Precinct Election Commission chairperson arbitrarily assigned the commission member to be responsible for following the mobile box. 

 

At the precinct #66 of the Isani District the commission members have not conducted the procedure of casting of lots and arbitrarily assigned the functions among the commission members. At the precinct #22 of the Mtatsminda District the casting of lots procedure was conducted improperly. As a result of the engagement of the GYLA observer, the problem was solved.   

 

At the precinct #76 of the Zugdidi District the casting of lots procedure was violated and the functions were assigned arbitrarily among the commission members. The remark of the GYLA observer was not taken into consideration, as a result of which GYLA observer submitted the complaint; however, the complaint was not registered.  

 

At the precinct #19 of the Vake District the casting of lots procedure for revealing the complaint registrator was not conducted among the party-assigned commission members. The representatives of electoral subjects agreed on dividing the functions per their own wishes. The violation was eliminated after the GYLA observer made a remark. 

 

 

The presence of unauthorized persons has occurred. At the precinct #1 of the Aspindza District, the Gamgebeli Candidate of the party  “Nino Burjanadze – United Opposition” – Gela Lekishvili participated in the process as the observer of the NGO “New Generation – New Initiative”. Following the remark by GYLA the Precinct Election Commission responded to the violation and asked the candidate to leave the precinct. GYLA informed the CEC and the observer registration of the Gamgebeli candidate was invalidated. 

 

Candidates themselves are registered as the representatives of electoral subjects at the precincts #23 and 53 of the Ozurgeti District, the independent candidates were registered as the representatives of the electoral subjects. Such a problem was discovered frequently at the many precincts of the Aspindza District. 

  

 

At the precinct #18 of the Nadzaladevi District, the problem, relating to the control sheets was discovered. The commission forgot the signature, so the control sheet was dropped into the ballot box without being signed by the first voter. 

 

 

At the precinct #32 of the Rustavi Ditrict the public copy of the voters’ list was not placed at the polling station. GYLA observer filed a complaint. 

 

The citizen – Irakli Nadareishvili contacted GYLA and informed that an unknown person was registered at his residence address in Tbilisi, at the Tengiz Abuladze Street. According to the citizen, such a problem did not exist during the previous elections. It is important to consider that the unknown person was registered at the residence address of the Irakli Nadareishvili in November 2012. 

 

By now, GYLA observers submitted 9 complaints and wrote 11 remarks (into the logbooks) on the above violations. 

From the date of its establishment in 1994, GYLA actively observers the elections of legislative, executive and local self-government bodies and works to support conducting the elections in a calm, fair environment and to support a steadfast protection of the legislation of Georgia during the electoral processes. 

 

Today, on June 15, Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association conducts the observation of the Local Elections in Tbilisi and in 40 districts of 10 regions of Georgia through up to 500 observers.    

 

Static observers are designated to 400 polling stations thoughout Georgia. Mobile groups drive around in  40 districts. GYLA conducts observation at the precincts, created in the special cases, at the precincts, where minorities reside and at the precincts, identified to be problematic during the previous elections. 

 

It is notable that the hotline operates on the election day, which gives both citizens and hournalists a possibility to receive legal consultations on the voting procedures. 

 

The hotline number is: 218-26-11

 

The hotline operates on the election day for the journalists and media organizations. The journalists and media organizations have a possibility to receive information and legal consultation on the election procedures, election day violations and ways to respond to them; journalists and media organizations also have a possibility to provide us with the information on the violations that they discovered. 

 

The hotline number is: 230-61- 63  

 

In addition, for receiving the comprehensive information on the election day violations, please visit www.electionsportal.ge, where you can submit an information on the violation that you identified – through filing an online form or sending a free SMS to the number 90039. 

 

GYLA will conduct three more press-conferences regarding the election day observation process (venue: NGO Media Center, address: Chavchavadze Avenue #23). 

 

The following press-conferences will be conducted at  14:00, 18:00 and 21:00. In addition, GYLA will conduct a press-conference at 12:00 on June 16.  

 

GYLA Local Self-Government Election and Post-Election Observation Mission was made possible with the support of the American people through funding of the “United States Agency for International Development” (USAID). The opinions expressed in the statement belong to the „Georgian Young Lawyers‘ Association“ and may not represent those of the USAID or the Government of the United States.