GYLA continues observing the Election Day processes.  At 20:00 the polling stations were closed and the vote counting procedures have started.  

 

 

At the precinct #14 of the Telavi District, the two signatures of the unauthorized persons were discovered in the mobile ballot box lists. After the verification of the information by the GYLA observers it was discovered that the two voters in the mobile ballot box list did not participate in the elections. The information was verified individually with the voters, which said that the signature in the list does not belong to them and that they did not participate in the elections through the mobile ballot box. GYLA observer decided to submit the complaint on the mentioned violation; however, the Precinct Election Commission did not give the observer a possibility to write a complaint. Later on, the problem was solved and GYLA observer wrote a complaint. The observer requested to invalidate the mobile ballot box ballots. It should be mentioned that this violation does not only represent the violation of the electoral legislation – it also includes the signs of an offence, prescribed under the Criminal Code (“forging the elections”, Article 1643). 

 

At the precinct #2 of the Vake District, the commission members (mobile ballot box supervisors) were given 22 ballots of all three types; however, 5 Mayoral ballots, 2 proportional ballots and 2 majoritarian ballots have returned to the polling stations. GYLA observer requested invalidation of the mobile ballot box. 

 

 

The information was disseminated that at the precinct #35 of the Marneuli District the pressure was conducted against the observer of the “Free Zone”. GYLA observer verified the information and it was revealed that the voter arrived at the polling station, requesting to participate in the elections without an ID card. The mentioned fact was objected by the representative of the “Free Zone”, who was verbally assaulted by the voter; the voter told the representative in the threatening tone that he was a former policeman. Despite the mentioned, the voter was not allowed to participate in the elections without an ID card. 

 

GYLA observer was not allowed to enter the precinct #48 of the Saburtalo District and the precinct #2 of the Chughureti District after 20:00. 

 

 

At the precinct #85 of the Saburtalo District the armed person arrived. Following the remark by GYLA observer, that person was not allowed to participate in the voting and was asked to leave the polling station. After a couple of minutes, this person returned to the polling station without a gun and left the polling station after casting a vote. 

 

 

GYLA was contacted by the citizens Sopio Kirvalidze and Iamze Shinjikashvili, which stated that their information was not entered into the general voters’ list and that they were unable to participate in the elections. 

 

Presence of the electoral subject candidates at the polling station territory

At the precinct #10 of the Khoni District the following candidate of an electoral subject was present: Durmishkhan Tabidze – “United National Movement”, Meliton Gugava – Shalva Natelashvili – Labor Party of Georgia, Kakha Pirtskhalava – election bloc “Georgian Dream”. 

 

Up to now, GYLA observers have submitted 116 complaints and wrote 113 remarks to the logbook on the above violations. 

 

From the date of its establishment in 1994, GYLA actively observes 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 journalists 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. 

 

On June 16 GYLA will evaluate the Election Day and conduct the press-conference at 12:00;  (Venue: NGO Media Center, address: Chavchavadze Avenue #23).

 

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.  

 

ჯ. კახიძის #15, თბილისი, საქართველო, 0102 ; ტელ: (995 32) 95 23 53; ფაქსი: (995 32) 92 32 11; ელ-ფოსტა: gyla@gyla.ge; www.gyla.ge
15, J. Kakhidze str. 0102, Tbilisi, Georgia. Tel: (995 32) 95 23 53; Fax: (995 32) 92 32 11; E-mail: gyla@gyla.ge; www.gyla.ge