isfed fifth interim report eng

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International Society for Fair Elections and DemocracyI S F E D

Pre-Election Monitoring of2012 Parliamentary Elections

Fifth Interim Report

August 1 26, 2012

September 3

Tbilisi

Publishing the report was made possible with the support from American people, with the financial support from the

United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and

the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI). The views expressed in the report belong solely to

the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of NDI, USAID or United States Government


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I. About the Monitoring MissionWith the financial support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the

National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the National Democratic Institute for

International Affairs (NDI), on April 1, 2012, the International Society for Fair Elections andDemocracy (hereinafter, ISFED) started monitoring of the pre-election environment leading

up to the 2012 parliamentary elections. Starting from April 1, 2012, ISFED published

monthly interim reports on the pre-election environment and has subsequently published

four interim reports. The present fifth interim report covers the period of August 1-26, 2012.

II. Monitoring Methodology

October 1, 2012, was announced as the day of 2012 parliamentary elections on August 1,2012, officially kick starting the pre-election campaign. On August 11, 2012, ISFED was

accredited as a national monitoring organization at the Central Election Commission. As of

now, ISFED is monitoring pre-election period with 84 accredited observers.

ISFEDs fifth interim report coincides with the commencement of official election campaign.

Throughout this time ISFED monitoring included several different areas of focus, including:

The work of all 73 electoral administrations throughout Georgia; Public meetings and other political activities of political parties/electoral subjects; Use of administrative resources; Political pressure/threats, interference with political work and vote-buying.

In frames of the pre-election monitoring, ISFEDs long-term observers (LTOs) monitored theuse of administrative resources, including the participation of unauthorized individuals in

the election campaign, use of budgetary programs for the benefit of electoral goals, use of

buildings/edifices funded from the state/municipal budget for electoral purposes, use of

vehicles under the state or municipal ownership by officials in pre-election campaigning, etc.

In frames of the monitoring of electoral commissions, ISFEDs LTOs attend and monitormeetings of district electoral commissions in parallel with observing proper performance of

their functions during the pre-election period, including

whether attendance of all interested and authorized individuals at the meetings isfacilitated;

whether members of district electoral commissions (DECs) have been recruitedwithin the timeframe prescribed by the law;

whether any political party faced problems in registration of a candidate;


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whether a DEC has published the number of electoral precincts, addresses of precinctelectoral commissions (PECs), their telephone (fax) numbers and other information

within the timeframe prescribed by the law;

whether local self-governments ensure placement of agitation materials of electoralsubjects and observe the principle of equality, etc.

During the monitoring LTOs received information from administrative agencies by means of

soliciting public information as well as from political parties, media outlets and citizens.

In addition to violations that have been revealed, this report also contains information

obtained by ISFEDs LTOs about public meetings held by political parties throughout theregions of Georgia. Further, this report offers the list of promises made by political parties to

voters during these public meetings.

III. Summary of the SituationThis report covers the period from August 1 to August 26, 2012.

Starting from August 1, 2012, after the date of 2012 parliamentary elections was announced,

election stakeholders have been subject to a different legal regime. Specifically, the election

campaigning procedures envisaged by Chapter VI of the Election Code of Georgia have now

come into effect.1

The Must Carry obligation envisaged by Article 51 of the Election Code hascome into force; media and other broadcasters are now obligated to comply with the procedures

for placement of political advertising;

it is prohibited to use a political partys number on ballot paper in socialadvertising;

it is prohibited to prepare materials with any election subject or his number onballot paper, or/and which include materials for or against any election subject,

with the use of state/municipal budget funds;

public officials are prohibited from using official capacity or working status in theprocess of agitation or campaigning in favor of or against an election subject;

individuals who are authorized to participate in pre-electioncampaigning/agitation are prohibited from using buildings and constructions

funded from the state or municipal budgets if other subjects are banned from

using the same buildings on equal terms;

1 See the organic law of Georgia Election Code of Georgia, Chapter VI


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it is prohibited to use means communication, information resources or any othertechnologies owned by organizations funded by the state or municipal budget for

electoral purposes;

use transportation means owned by state or local self-government agencies forfree or on concessionary terms is prohibited;

participation in pre-election campaign/agitation by individuals who are legallyprohibited to do so will result in imposition of fine in the amount of GEL 2000;

transferring of Gamgebeli, Sakrebulo Chairperson, senior officials of police andthe office of the prosecutor is prohibited, except when their authority expires

and/or when they have violated the law;

implementation of such projects which have not been previously envisaged in thestate/municipal budgets shall be prohibited; so is increasing of those budgetary

programs, which were envisaged in the budget before the elections, initiation of

ad hoc transfers or increase of planned transfers in the local budget.

Right after the announcement of the date of the elections, the CEC published schedule of

events for the October 1, 2012 parliamentary elections in Georgia, laying out timeframes for

various activities as established by the Election Code.2

As of now, there are 15 political parties and 2 electoral blocs registered with the CEC.3

According to the information available to ISFED 4 , number of public meetings held by

electoral subjects from August 1 to August 26, 2012 is as follows: the United National

Movement - 1825, the Georgian Dream 376, the New Rights 31, the Christian Democrats

34, the Free Georgia 5 and the party for Fair Georgia 4.

During the reporting period, ISFED identified the following incidents of allegedly political

motive:

Pressure/threats leveled against political party activists 10;

2http://cesko.ge/index.php?lang_id=GEO&sec_id=138&info_id=89373http://cesko.ge/files/2012/PARLAMENTIS%20ARCHEVNEBI/PARTIEBI/election_subjects_31.08_geo.pdf4

ISFED received information about public meetings and promises made during these meetings from LTOs oractivists of the organization who personally attended these meetings and met with participants;5ISFED received additional information about meetings held by the United National Movement after these

meetings were finished. Therefore, the information could not be fully incorporated in the analysis of public

meetings registered by us. It was impossible to attend every meeting due to the fact that we received

information about the UNMs meetings post factum. According to the information provided by the UNM, there

were total of 884 public meetings held by the party during the reporting period;
http://cesko.ge/index.php?lang_id=GEO&sec_id=138&info_id=8937http://cesko.ge/index.php?lang_id=GEO&sec_id=138&info_id=8937http://cesko.ge/index.php?lang_id=GEO&sec_id=138&info_id=8937http://cesko.ge/files/2012/PARLAMENTIS%20ARCHEVNEBI/PARTIEBI/election_subjects_31.08_geo.pdfhttp://cesko.ge/files/2012/PARLAMENTIS%20ARCHEVNEBI/PARTIEBI/election_subjects_31.08_geo.pdfhttp://cesko.ge/files/2012/PARLAMENTIS%20ARCHEVNEBI/PARTIEBI/election_subjects_31.08_geo.pdfhttp://cesko.ge/files/2012/PARLAMENTIS%20ARCHEVNEBI/PARTIEBI/election_subjects_31.08_geo.pdfhttp://cesko.ge/index.php?lang_id=GEO&sec_id=138&info_id=8937


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Physical assault/violence on political grounds 15 (including 7 cases of violenceperpetrated against journalists);

Interference with political activities 8 (including 5 cases of interference withpolitical activities with the involvement of public servants);

Interference with journalistic work 10; Violations in the work of election administration 3; Dismissals from work on alleged political motive 4; Interference with the work of a monitoring organization 4; Application of administrative liability on alleged political grounds 5; Improper use of administrative resources 31.

Facts featured in the present report illustrate significant raise in the number of cases

involving threats/pressure on political grounds, physical assault, interference with

journalistic work and use of administrative resources in August 2012.

Certain individual facts contained by this report bear signs of a criminal offence, calling for

immediate examination and probe by appropriate authorities. Specifically, in several

instances signs of actions envisaged by Article 142 of the Criminal Code of Georgia are

evident, including restricting, by an official, equal rights on the basis of political affiliation,

which has essentially infringed human rights. Further, actions envisaged by Article 156 and

154 of the Criminal Code of Georgia persecution for political pursuits and illegal

interference into professional activities of a journalist, as well as actions envisaged by Article

166 of the Criminal Code, including illegal interference with the work of political unions by

the use of force, threat of violence or abuse of official capacity.

Facts in the present report frequently contradict with paras.5.4, 7.6 and 7.7 of the OSCE 1990

Copenhagen Document, calling for clear separation between the state and political parties

and stipulating that the participating States shall provide the necessary legal guarantees to

enable political parties and organizations to compete with each other on a basis of equal

treatment before the law and by the authorities; ensure that law and public policy work to

permit political campaigning to be conducted in a fair and free atmosphere in which neither

administrative action, violence nor intimidation bars the parties and the candidates from

freely presenting their views and qualifications.6

IV. Violations Revealed in the Work of the Election Administration

6http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/14304
http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/14304http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/14304http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/14304http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/14304


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Determining the coalition Georgian Dreams number on ballot paperOn August 20, 2012, representatives of an electoral bloc, Bidzina Ivanishvili Georgian

Dream released a statement alleging that the CEC violated the procedure for assigning a

number to the electoral bloc7.

The electoral bloc Bidzina Ivanishvili Georgian Dream intended to participate in election

with a number 7 previously used by the Conservative Party and had already produced

agitation materials and other items for campaigning with number 7 on them.

However, the CECs interpretation of para.4 of Article 119 of the Election Code different

from interpretation given for 2008 and 2010 elections. The paragraph stipulates that If an

election bloc has been established by political parties, which participatedin the most recentparliamentary elections, it [the bloc] shall specify in the statute of the bloc the party whosenumber it will use.

Specifically, the statement published by the CEC notes that a bloc of political parties has the

right to keep the same number as the number which was assigned to one of the member

political parties during the previous parliamentary elections if all parties in the blocparticipated in the most recent elections. Otherwise, the number shall be determined on a

sortition basis.8

It is noteworthy that in 2008 and 2010 elections, the CEC allowed electoral blocs to use

number previously assigned to one of the member political parties, even though some of

their member political parties did not participate in previous elections.9

Leaders of the Georgian Dream met with NGOs and declared that the CECs interpretation ofpara.4, Article 119 of the Election Code is politically motivated.

On August 21, 2012, the CEC met with NGOs. The CECs representatives noted that during

2008 parliamentary elections as well as during 2010 municipal elections, assignation of

election number to political blocs was decided based on a political agreement reached

between members of the CEC, whereas in the case that involved the bloc Bidzina Ivanishvili

Georgian Dream, similar political consensus was not reached between the CEC members.

The CEC decision gives the appearance that the CEC members violated the principle of

political neutrality, as unlike previous elections, they made a different decision with obvious

political motives.

7http://live.ge/video-85978http://cesko.ge/index.php?lang_id=GEO&sec_id=13&info_id=93449During the 2010 municipal elections the bloc Alliance for Georgia was assigned a number of one of its member

parties even though not all of its members had participated in the 2008 parliamentary elections;
http://live.ge/video-8597http://live.ge/video-8597http://live.ge/video-8597http://cesko.ge/index.php?lang_id=GEO&sec_id=13&info_id=9344http://cesko.ge/index.php?lang_id=GEO&sec_id=13&info_id=9344http://cesko.ge/index.php?lang_id=GEO&sec_id=13&info_id=9344http://cesko.ge/index.php?lang_id=GEO&sec_id=13&info_id=9344http://live.ge/video-8597


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On August 20, 2012, the CEC assigned number 41 to the bloc Bidzina Ivanishvili Georgian

Dream.

Tbilisi/MtatsmindaISFEDs LTO observed an incident during a meeting of the PEC N20. When the observer

arrived at the electoral precinct, the meeting had already been finished several minutes ago.

However, after interviewing members of the PEC, she found out that there was one

important violation during the meeting. A representative of the coalition Georgian Dream,

Tsatsa Archvadze declared that an unidentified individual participated in election of the PEC

chairman, secretary and deputy pretending to be Nino Veshapidze, a member of theChristian Democratic Movement. According to Tsatsa Archvadze, she knows NinoVeshapidze and is certain that a woman attending the meeting was not her.Representative of the coalition Georgian Dream demanded that the woman present her ID,

which she refused to. No one saw the woman after that. Representative of the coalition

Georgian Dream enclosed minutes of the first meetings with a different opinion.

She also filed a complaint with Mtatsminda DEC, which was never examined as the

complaint failed to clearly formulate a request.

TianetiMeeting of Tianeti District Electoral Commission N19 was held on August 16, 2012, forconsideration of applications filed by candidates of the PEC membership. The meeting was

attended by all 13 members of the DEC, as well as ISFEDs LTO who observed an incident

during the meeting.

The DEC was considering applications submitted by 9 candidates for 6 vacant positions of a

member of the PEC N16 of Tushurebi village. Two candidates shared the same surname (Liaand Eter Kachlishvili), which confused members of the DEC during voting.A representative of the party Industry Will Save Georgia, Malkhaz Davitashvili proposed tothe chairperson to choose a candidate by drawling of lots in districts where applications hadbeen submitted by more than 6 candidates. The DEC chairperson agreed.

The following members of Tianeti N19 DEC Iamze Kvnitsashvili, Liana Khomasuridze andTamar Marauli, in an interview with ISFEDs representative explained that first applicationsubmitted for membership of the PEC N16 in Tushurebi belonged to Eter Kachlishvili,whom all thirteen members of the DEC voted for. As forLia Kachlishvili, she did not receivea single vote.


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At the end of the meeting, Lia Kachlishvili was chosen by Tianeti DEC for the precinctelectoral commission N16, which representatives of the Georgian Dream protested against.

In handwritten minutes of the meeting, solicited by representative of the party Industry

Saves Georgia Malkhaz Davitashvili, it is visible that first letter of the first candidate has been

altered i.e. E. Kachlishvili is has been altered into L. Kachlishvili. Correspondingly, thehandwritten minutes of the meeting notes that there were two L. Kachlishvilis on the list

candidates for membership of the PEC N16, where number one received 13 votes while

number eight received none.

Corresponding complaint prepared by the DEC members on August 18, 2012, was not

examined by Tianeti DEC for a mechanical error in the document. ISFED believes that the

mechanical error did not amount to grounds for refusal to examine the complaint.

V. Pressure/Threats on Alleged Political Grounds

1. Dismissal from work10GurjaaniOn May 30, 2012, Vano Natsarashvili, a member of the coalition Georgian Dream, who hadbeen working at the security company United Security at Gurjaani Medical Center sinceApril 2012, was fired from work.

In an interview with ISFEDs LTO, Vano Natsarashvili noted that prior to his dismissal, at

about 3 weeks earlier he was visited by security and police officers, demanding he leave the

coalition Georgian Dream. Otherwise, they said they would have him dismissed from work.

On May 30, 2012, he received a phone-call telling him that he was dismissed due to staff

cuts.

10These facts contained by this report bear signs of a criminal offence, calling for immediate examination and

probe by corresponding authorities. Specifically, in several instances signs of actions envisaged by Article 142 of

the Criminal Code of Georgia are evident, including violation of equality of humans due to their political

affiliation by using official position, which is qualified as a criminal and liable action under Article 142 of the

Criminal Code of Georgia;


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It is noteworthy that together with Natsarashvili two more employees were dismissed from

work but after some time, both were reinstated to their previous positions at work.

On June 7, 2012, Vano Natsarashvili requested a copy of the order on his dismissal. Director

General of the United Security Alexandre Bibilashvili responded on June 13 saying that Vano

Natsarashvili had been dismissed based on subparagraph d, para.1 of Article 37 of the LaborCode due to staff cuts.

Tbilisi/NadzaladeviOn August 9 and 12, 2012, activist of the coalition Georgian Dream Tea Davituliani, wasdismissed from two different works.

Ms. Davituliani worked as a junior doctor at the tenth branch of ambulance (Mikhailov

Hospital) based on a contract agreement, and as an assistant to a family doctor at the clinicNew Hospital.

Tea Davituliani was hired at the clinic New Hospital based on a competition and had workedthere for only three weeks. During her tenure at the clinic she never once received a reproof

or any kind of warning. It is peculiar that Tea Davituliani was dismissed from both works

after she openly expressed her political beliefs when talking to her co-workers by saying that

she is a supporter of the Georgian Dream.

On August 9, 2012, manager of the clinic New Hospital, Asmat Topuria summoned her andtold her that she should have better taken her child to school rather than to opposition party

rallies. This fact suggests that Tea Davitulianis dismissal was politically motivated.

Tea Davituliani was dismissed from the ambulance service on August 9, 201211. On August

12, 2012, she was also dismissed from the New Hospital for her failure to work with the

team.

DushetiOn August 20, 2012, director of Vazha-Pshavela House Museum Lela Razikashvili wasdismissed from work.

Lela Razikashvili had been working as director of the House Museum since 2006. In 2008 the

House Museum was granted the status of a legal entity of public law and Lela Razikashvili

11 Tea Davituliani says she was told to go and dream.


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was appointed as a director based on the order of the Minister of Culture, Sports and

Monuments Protection.

Lela Razikashvili never received a rebuke or a warning during her tenure at the House

Museum.

The order about her dismissal cites the fact that she was not a local resident and visited the

museum only on the weekends as grounds for her dismissal.

Lela Razikashvili herself believes that her dismissal by the fact that she hosted in the

museum Bidzina Ivanishvili and supporters of the Georgian Dream who were attending the

public celebration of Vazhaoba on July 14, 2012.

DedoplistskaroOn August 7, 2012, a member of the medical staff of a brigade of Adati Ltd.s emergency

service, Eter Chuchulashvili was dismissed by the director on grounds that brother of herspouse Giorgi Nasrashvili is a representative of the Georgian Dreams office.

After publicizing of the fact (in around ten days), Eter Chuchulashvili was reinstated to

work. ISFEDs LTO verified the incident with director of Adati Ltd Nukri Bagashvili. He

director did not confirm the fact and declared that an order about Eter Chuchulashvilis

dismissal simply did not exist.

2. Pressure on political groundsFacts of politically motivated threats/pressure against party activists and citizens below also

amount to misuse of administrative resources, as frequently pressure is exerted by abuse of

official power. It must be noted that the law on Public Service prohibits a public servant

from abusing official power for the benefit of party activities.12

ZugdidiOn August 2, 2012, at around 17:00, the coordinator of the coalition Georgian Dream in the

village of Orulu, Emzar Tsaava was visited by an officer of Zugdidi patrol police IrakliTsaava. According to Emzar Tsaava, Irakli Tsaava locked the door and demanded he explainthe reason why he was a member of the opposition, and to stop cooperating with the

coalition Georgian Dream.

12 See Article 61 of the Law on Public Service


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During the argument, Irakli Tsaava damaged some items in the room and started threatening

Emzar Tsaava with a weapon. Later Emzar Tsaava managed to escape from the room and

hide.

In an interview with ISFEDs LTO, Emzar Tsaava said that he was hiding in nut plants for

two hours. As to why he did not call law enforcers, he responded that he did not have hiscell-phone with him.

SighnaghiOn August 3, 2012, deputy chairperson of Sakrebulo Kote Janelidze suggested to a Tsnori-dweller, Nikoloz Kikilashvili to abandon the coalition Georgian Dream, which the latterrefused to. According to Kikilashvili, after two days Kote Janelidze had him sit in his car and

took him to a forest park where there Soso Tsitsishvili, head of the regional security service,was waiting. Janelidze and Tsitsishvili were demanding that Kikilashvili leave the country

and the coalition Georgian Dream. They were threatening to arrest him and were verbally

abusing him.

In an interview with ISFEDs LTO, chairperson of Sighnaghi Sakrebulo says that it was a

provocation and he does not rule out a possibility that similar facts will occur in the future.

KaspiOn August 2012, father ofLevan Taboridze, supporter of the coalition Georgian Dream whocurrently resides in Belgium, was visited by Malkhaz Barnovi, chief of Shida Kartli regionalpolice, and threatened that his family would lose a house if his son does not come to his

senses.13

Levan Taboridze believes the incident had to do with his active participation in protest

rallies held by immigrants e.g. on June 28, 2012, outside the Renaissance Brussels Hotel

where President Mikheil Saakashvili was holding a meeting, and on July 15, 2012, outside

the EU headquarters.

Ozurgeti13 The present fact, in addition to use of administrative resources also shows signs of criminal offences.

Specifically, it contains violation of equality of humans due to their political views, by means of using official

position, which is qualified as illegal and liable action under Article 142 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, as

well as signs of threat envisaged by Article 151 of the Criminal Code.


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According to the report ofGuria News, on August 9, 2012, one of the dwellers of the village

Tskhemliskhidi, Nugzar Giorgadze who is a supporter of the coalition Georgian Dream,found saplings of a precious Empress Tree that he had planted in his own plot cut down to

the ground. Nugzar Giorgadze believes that it was an act of retribution, although he cant

specify the person who cut down the saplings. However, in an interview with ISFEDs LTO,

he says that the incident happened after he confronted the municipal authorities.

AkhaltsikheOn August 12, 2012, at around 16:00, activist of the coalition Georgian Dream, HasmikIegyan, together with three other supporters of the coalition was distributing booklets of thecoalition Georgian Dream at Iverieli Street in Akhaltsikhe. Suddenly they were approached

by Aghasa Irtsyan together with two other individuals accompanying him and identifiedhimself as a police officer. He demanded the activists stop acting in support of the coalition;

otherwise, he said he would arrest them14.

Activists of the coalition Georgian Dream girls under the age of 18, got scared and started

crying. Iritsyan tore some booklets and forced the girls to take off their shirts.

Hasmik Iegyan called her uncle Tigran Grigoryan, who is an activist of the coalition

Georgian Dream. Irtsyan left the scene before Grigoryans arrival.

ChokhatauriSeveral teachers of Chokhatauri School were not going to attend meeting organized by the

United National Movement on August 19, 2012. Having learned about their intention, school

principal forced them to attend the meeting by threatening with payroll deduction.

Identity of the school teachers and the principal is known to ISFED; however, it refrains

from publicizing the information for safety concerns.

Dusheti

14 This action constitutes disruption of distribution of pre-election slogans and materials, which is qualified as

an illegal action under Article 80 of the Criminal Code, and results in imposition of fine in the amount of GEL

1000 on a natural person involved or GEL 2000 on a public servant involved. Therefore, violation of the

procedure results in imposition of fine in the amount of GEL 1000. Under Article 93 of the Election Code,

corresponding municipal agency is authorized to draw up a record of administrative offence in relation to the

violation of the said Article.


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On August 20, 2012, an activist of the coalition Georgian Dream from Dusheti was called up

for military service.

In an interview with ISFEDs LTO Zura Burduli says that during medical examination chiefof the military conscription service Beso undilashvili was telling doctors to write in hismedical report that Burduli was fit for military service.

According to Zura Burduli, he was found unfit for military service several times before.

ISFEDs LTO interviewed Beso Undilashvili who denied any acts of pressure against Zura

Burduli, saying that he will be examined by the commission who will decide whether he is

fit for military service or not. He also said that everyone should serve compulsory military

service despite their party affiliation.

LagodekhiDweller of the village of Vardisubani, supporter of the coalition Georgian Dream, TsitsinoIvanishvili, does not specify a concrete individual in an interview with ISFEDs LTO;however, she alleges that after she started collecting signatures for a petition to grant

Georgian citizenship to Bidzina Ivanishvili, municipal authorities started looking into her

and her family. Tsitsino Ivanishvili was summoned by the Chamber of Control for

questioning. According to her, she has been persecuted, threatened to leave the coalition.

According to her, penalty measures are applied against her spouse on a systematic basis.

Tsitsino Ivanishvili says that Bidzina Ivanishvili is her relative and she has the right and the

obligation to support the coalition Georgian Dream.

KobuletiDriver of Kobuleti-Zeniti minibus Roin Katamadze was prohibited from working as ofAugust 12, 2012. He was informed about it by head of Kobuleti Trans-Regulation Ltd. LevanGugunava and his deputy Robert Kakaladze.Roin Katamadze believes that this has to do with the fact that he was transporting supporters

of the coalition Georgian Dream for various meetings organized by the coalition.

In an interview with ISFEDs LTO, Levan Gugunava and Roberti Kaladze stated that Roin

Katamadze was dismissed from work two years ago for violation of contract; nevertheless, he

continued to work, refusing to pay taxes, failing to observe the schedule and arguing with

other drivers.


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According to Roin Katamadze, he was summoned to the police department of Mukhaestati

Village on August 11 for his illegal entrepreneurial work, and demanded to present certain

documentation. He presented the documents on August 12 to the police.

As Roin Katamadze himself informed ISFEDs observer, all of his documents were valid. He

had a certificate issued by Kobuleti Trans Regulation Service Ltd. dated August 12, 2012,which allowed him to continue his work as a driver in his regular mode.

LanchkhutiOn August 8, 2012, there was an assembly held in downtown Lanckhuti for commemorating

the August 2008 developments. Participants formed a live chain at 7:30pm. Eka Kvachadze,who was wearing a Georgian Dream t-shirt, expressed her desire to participate in the

assembly. Irma Mgeladze, head of Lanchkhuti Municipalitys department for cultural,monuments protection and sports, tried to hinder her participation. ISFEDs LTO contacted

Eka Kvachadze who said that she wanted to stand in the live chain but Irma Mgeladze told

her youre not on our side and therefore, you dont have the right to stand here. You

should go to the Georgian Dream. According to Eka Kvachadze, she told Irma Mgeladze that

everyone had the right to participate in the assembly and despite her resistance, she joined

the live chain. Eka Kvachadzes mother works at school and Kvachadze is worried that she

may face problems. ISFEDs LTO contacted Irma Mgeladze, head of Lanchkhuti

Municipalitys department for culture, monuments protection and sports to verify the fact

but he refused to comment.

3. Vote BuyingGurjaaniOn July 31, 2012, at the Memorial of Praise in Gurjaani, leaders of the Christian Democratic

Movement hosted a meal that consisted of barbecue, cucumbers, tomatoes, bread and wine

for citizens following a public meeting. The meal was intended for about 1000 people.

One of the leaders of the party, Levan Vepkhvadze informed Kakheti Information Centerthat supporters of the Christian Democratic Movement had collected the food by their own

means.

According to the Kakheti Information Center, 20 attendees of the meeting interviewed stated

that they were invited by party leaders to the table and offered food free of charge.


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SenakiOn August 6, 2012, warm clothes and shirts were distributed among the population of

Chaladidi Village, Senaki Municipality.

According to the village population, the clothes were distributed on behalf of the United

National Movement, during the visit of Governor Guram Misabishvili in the village.15

DedoplistskaroOn August 9, 2012, candidate of the UNM for the position of majoritarian MP for

Dedoplistskaro, Zaza Kedelashvili was visiting a citizen, Marina Benashvili. In an interviewwith ISFEDs LTO, Manana Benashvili said that Kedelashvili promised to cover her costs forapartment registration and help her find a job.

DushetiOn August 27, 2012, according to the report of Mtskheta-Mtianeti Information Center,

candidate of the UNM for the position of majoritarian MP in Dusheti Electoral District,

Zurab Otiashvili gave GEL 500 to one of the voters on August 25, during a celebration ofVazhaoba.

According to the journalist, the fact is confirmed by Zurab Otiashvili himself, the person

who received the money and several witnesses.16In relation to the fact ISFED released a

statement on August 29, 2012, calling upon the law enforcement officers to examine whether

there are signs of criminal offence in actions of Zurab Otiashvili.1718

15http://info9.ge/?l=G&m=1000&id=250916 http://www.icmm.ge/ka/site/articles/2376/%E1%83%90%E1%83%9B%E1%83%9D%E1%83%9B%E1%83%A

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%E1%83%9B%E1%83%AE%E1%83%A0%E1%83%98%E1%83%93%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C.htm17 See ISFEDs statement atwww.isfed.ge18 Although Zurab Otiashvili was presented by the party as the candidate for the position of majoritarian MP in

Dusheti Municipality, the UNM did not register him as an official candidate;
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4. Interference with political work19Facts of interference with political work featured in the present report also bear signs of

criminal offence envisaged by Article 166 of the Criminal Code of Georgia violent

interference with the work of political unions, threat of violence or abuse of official capacity.

PotiOn August 3, 2012, at 12:30 pm, representatives of the coalition Georgian Dream were

distributing newspapers and letters of invitation at Agmashenebeli Street in Poti. UNMs

activist Irakli Nachkebia approached to them, took away their newspapers, tore them andthrew them into the face of the coalitions representatives.20

Several minutes after the incident, a vehicle with license plates CJC 251 started followingactivists of the Georgian Dream. The driver started addressing the young men with obscene

language.

ISFEDs LTO verified the information with the UNMs representative Irakli Nachkebia and

the latter confirmed the fact, saying that he did take newspapers away from activists of the

Georgian Dream and express disapproval of the jobs done by the Russian money. He also

confirmed that he tore the newspapers and the invitation letters apart but rejected any

confrontation and use of obscene language or following by a car.

KobuletiOn August 3, 2012, activists of the coalition Georgian Dream Anzor Inaishvili, ZviadTsivadze and Vazha Tsetskhaldze were putting up posters on outdoor lighting posts inDaba Chakvi, informing about an assembly to be held on August 5, when they were

approached by a representative of Chakvi administrative unit and forbade them from putting

19 In parallel to electoral processes entering their active phase, the trend of individuals with different political

beliefs and opinions attending public meetings held by the coalition Georgian Dream was revealed, including

Gamgebelis, public servants and trustees of different communities or territorial agencies. Local self-governmentofficials were particularly active in terms of interference with the political activities. They also pressured local

population.20 This action constitutes disruption of distribution of pre-election slogans and materials, which is qualified as


1000 on a natural person involved or GEL 2000 on a public servant involved. Therefore, violation of the

procedure results in imposition of fine in the amount of GEL 1000. Under Article 93 of the Election Code, Poti

Self-Government Agencyes are authorized to draw up a record of administrative offence in relation to the

violation of the said Article.


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up the posters. Activists stopped working.

ISFEDs LTO contacted Achiko Dumbadze, head of Kobuleti Municipality SupervisingService, who confirmed the incident and said that within no later than 10 days after

scheduling elections, the municipality was going to designate places where all interested

parties would be able to put up election posters.

ISFED believes that pursuant to the Election Code, activists of the Georgian Dream had the

right to put up agitation materials on lighting posts, as places designated by municipal

authorities are not the only place where posting of agitation materials is allowed. Further,

the Code does not prohibit putting up agitation materials on a lighting post. Therefore,

Chakvi Administrative Units representative acted illegally under Article 80 of the Election

Code interference with spread of electoral slogans and materials, punishable by fine

ranging from GEL 1000 to 2000.

TelaviOn August 17, 2012, the Georgian Dream coalition activists Nino Samkharadze, NatiaTsitelauri, Nazi Tsitelauri, Eka Lobjanidze and Robiko Javakhishvili were putting upinformation posters outside the offices of Tsinandali Gamgeoba, where the law does not

prohibit putting up of posters. The posters said damage has not been compensated. Village

trustee Archil Meguntishvili got in the way of their work. He told them in a loud voice totear down the posters they had put up and leave the territory. In an interview with ISFEDs

LTO Archil Megutnishvili refrained from making a comment about the incident.21

KazbegiOn August 7, 2012, agitation material put up by the coalition Georgian Dream was defaced

someone wrote over number five in red paint. Later it turned out that the materials were

painted over by an employee of Kazbegi Municipality, Gia Khutsishvili.22

21 This action constitutes disruption of distribution of pre-election slogans and materials, which is qualified as


1000.22 http://icmm.ge/ka/site/news/2233/%E1%83%A7%E1%83%90%E1%83%96%E1%83%91%E1%83%94%E1%8

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KhuloThe Georgian Dream had scheduled a meeting with voters in resort of Beshumi on August 5,

2012, which coincided with a traditional celebration of shuamtoba.

Shuamtoba is held annually, on the first weekend of August in high-mountainous regions of

Adjara and is distinguished by various entertainment and sports events.

A concert was held in frames of the celebrations in Beshumi on August 5, 2012, which was

attended by President Saakashvili. Later he delivered a public speech.

Leader of the coalition Georgian Dream arrived in Beshumi during the concert. He was

seeking to meet the population assembled at the concert but activists of the UNM blocked his

way and did not allow him to continue going towards the scene.

There was a clash and facts of interference with journalistic reporting. Video footage and

interviews with bystanders suggested that UNMs activists who did not allow the leader of

the Georgian Dream to meet with the population were not locals.

As Bidzina Ivanishvili was not allowed to meet with the population, supporters of the

coalition Georgian Dream and their leaders soon left the scene.

AkhaltsikheOn August 9, 2012, monitors of the Georgian Dreams voter list verification project door-

to-door campaign, Natia Bekturashvili and Darejan Inasaridze were verifying voter lists inthe village of Klde.

Dweller of the village of Klde, the UNMs supporter, Jaba Kurtanidze together withaccompanying individuals stopped the monitors on their way and told them to go back as

Klde was the village of the UNM and that they would not receive a single vote from the

village. Monitors wanted to continue verifying voter lists but these individuals started

following them. After the incident all families visited by the monitors refused to cooperate

for verification.23

1%83%A1-5-%E2%80%93-%E1%83%98%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C%E1%83%98-

%E1%83%92%E1%83%90%E1%83%93%E1%83%90%E1%83%90%E1%83%AC%E1%83%94%E1%83%A0%

E1%83%94%E1%83%A1.htm23Jaba Kurtanidzes action amounts to disruption of the work of an election subjects representative violation

of Article 91 of the Election Code, and results in imposition of fine in the amount oof GEL 500. Under Article


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GurjaaniOn August 9, 2012, at 16:00, the Georgian Dreams candidate for the position of majoritarian

MP in district of Gurjaani, Manana Verikashvili was holding a pre-election meeting withvoters. Several minutes after start of the meeting, an employee of Gurjaani Gamgeoba Social

Service, Eka Nakevkhishvili arrived at the scene with five other women. During the meetingthese women were openly saying how grateful they were for Giorgi Ghviniashvili. They

were expressing their views loudly. It seemed that they were trying to disrupt the meeting.

Eka Nakevkhishvili was constantly talking on the phone and giving instructions to

accompanying women. In around 20 minutes, Nakevkhishvili and the other women left the

scene.

SagarejoOn August 17, 2012, in the village of Iormungalo near a market, candidate of the coalition

Georgian Dream for the position of majoritarian MP for Sagarejo, Tina Khidashvili, washolding a meeting with voters when local authorities arrived and tried to disrupt the

meeting.

Later the meeting grew into a clash between supporters of the coalition Georgian Dream and

representatives of the municipal authorities, and interference with journalistic reporting.24

These are the following individuals who were actively involved in the physical clash:

Gamgebeli of the village of Duzagrami Mukhtar Ismaylov; member of Sakrebulo of TulariVillage Vekil Vekilov; niece of Tavtukh Kachiev, Gamgebeli of Keshalo Village25 and anemployee of Gamgeoba, previously convicted Ilgar Gajyev26.Although public servants opposing the coalition Georgian Dream were also involved in the

fight, following the incident the police detained only members of the Georgian Dreams

office Mubariz Mamedov and Natik Rasulov. It is noteworthy that they deem themselves tobe the victims.

93-2 of the Election Code, corresponding record of violation is drawn up by the CEC or an authorized

individual of a corresponding DEC.24http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rfZWGY8BeE&feature=player_embedded25 The action perpetrated by public servants violates Article 166 of the Criminal Code of Georgia disruption of

political work. The action also shows signs of hooliganism. The incident amounts to misuse of administrative

resources and violates Article 61 of the Law on Civil Service;26http://ick.ge/ka/articles/11994-2012-08-20-07-44-03.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rfZWGY8BeE&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rfZWGY8BeE&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rfZWGY8BeE&feature=player_embeddedhttp://ick.ge/ka/articles/11994-2012-08-20-07-44-03.htmlhttp://ick.ge/ka/articles/11994-2012-08-20-07-44-03.htmlhttp://ick.ge/ka/articles/11994-2012-08-20-07-44-03.htmlhttp://ick.ge/ka/articles/11994-2012-08-20-07-44-03.htmlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rfZWGY8BeE&feature=player_embedded


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The detainees were transferred to Sighnaghi pre-trial isolator the same day.

Lawyer Tengiz Bezhashvili, who is defending interests of the detainees, says that he was not

allowed to meet with the detainees in the isolator. Although the lawyer presented his order

of defense, he was not allowed into the police department and told that the detainees had

already been questions and his presence was uncalled for. The detainees were soontransferred to Sagarejo police. The court sentenced both detainees to 15 days of

administrative imprisonment.

On August 17, Tinatin Khidasheli filed a complaint against Gamgebeli of Duzgarama village

in the police department of Iormughanlo Villag, alleging interference with pre-election

campaigning. According to Khidasheli, she also submitted a video footage showing the

incident to the IATF.27

5. Physical Assault/Violence on Political GroundsKobuletiOn August 2, 2012, in second half of the day, activists of the coalition Georgian DreamSalome Beridze, Giorgi Akhvlediani, Meri Totogashvili and Vazha Tsetskhladze weredistributing newspapers of the coalition Georgian Dream and invitation cards for attending

an assembly scheduled to be held in Batumi on August 5.

As Zviad Tikhlaishvili, head of Kobuleti steering group of the coalition informed ISFEDsLTO, dwellers of Tsetskhlauri Village started throwing rocks at them, damaging their cell-phones and a car which they drove.

Zviad Tkhilaishvili and other members of the coalition arrived at the scene of the incident

immediately, diffused the situation and ensured safe transportation of activists.

AkhaltsikheOn August 12, 2012, at around 21:30, activist of the coalition Georgian Dream TigranGrigoryan was walking in a square in downtown Akhaltsikhe with his spouse and a two-yearold child, when suddenly he was summoned by his neighborAgasa Iritsyan who asked himabout the reason he was a member of the coalition Georgian Dream, why wasnt he wearing

27On August 28, 2012, Tinatin Khidasheli was questioned by Sagarejo Police. She testified in relation to the

incident of Iormungalo Village which she demanded investigation for.


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a shirt with number 5 on it and verbally abused him. Afterward, Iritsyan punched him in his

chest and threatened with physical assault.28

Tigran Gregoryan went to a nearby office of the coalition Georgian Dream with his wife and

his child and informed the emergency service about the incident. Afterwards, he visited the

district police department and filed a statement.

It is noteworthy that individuals accompanying Iritsyan Erekle Ereklishvili and a driver,

witnessed the developments.

SamtrediaOn August 18, 2012, Kakha Kaladze, the coalition Georgian Dreams candidate for the

position of majoritarian MP was having a meeting with population in Samtredia

Municipality, village of Gomi. During the meeting he presented before Gomi communityAvtandil Tevzadze as representative of the coalition Georgian Dream.

Avtandil Tevzadze previously served as a majoritarian MP for Samtredia.

Appearance of Avtandil Tevzadze triggered aggression at the meeting. Some were criticizing

him for being a member of the Georgian Dream when he was asking for support of the

United National Movement just yesterday.

It was followed by a clash and grew into an intense fight between the young men. As the

situation got tenser, elder men started getting involved in the fight.

Witnesses informed ISFEDs LTO that there were three black SUVs with tinted windows at

the assembly and people inside them were watching the meeting closely. Participants of the

meeting thought they were policemen; however, they did not react to the developments.29

RustaviOn August 19, 2012, following an assembly held by the coalition Georgian Dream, member

of the coalitions steering group Gia Bezhashvili was on his way when young men in a

minibus wearing the Georgian Dreams agitation shirts forced him into the minibus, took

28 The action shows signs of hooliganism envisaged by Article 239 of the Criminal Code of Georgia;29http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxPvoBOucRc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxPvoBOucRchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxPvoBOucRchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxPvoBOucRchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxPvoBOucRc


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him outside the city and beat him up. The victim reported the incident to Rustavi Patrol

Police.30

6. Fine/Administrative Measures Applied against Political ActivistsShuakheviOn August 5, 2012, representative of the coalition Georgian Dreams youth group GiorgiKhurtsidze was arrested by the police. Initially his whereabouts were unknown for the party.As it turned out later, he was held at Shuakhevi police department for questioning. The

arrest was related to an incident that occurred on August 4, a day before, in the village of

Khichauri, when Giorgi Khurtsidze with his fellow team-mates found equipment for

interception of communication in the vehicle of one of the members of the Georgian

Dreams youth group Irakli Doborjginidze.Head of the Georgian Dreams office in Shuakhevi, Nodar Kartsivadze stated that he

inspected the car as he had suspicions after Irakli Doborjginidze started asking members of

the youth group whether they smoked marijuana, whether they were paid for working for

the party, etc. In an interview with ISFEDs LTO, Nodar Kartsivadze said that after finding

the equipment, Irakli Doborjginidze confessed to the police that that he had bought the

equipment himself, for personal safety reasons and installed it in his car. He also said that

Irakli Doborjginidze was accusing the detainee of illegally taking possession of his property

the equipment for interception of communication. Giorgi Khurtsidze was arrested the

following day, on August 5 in Batumi. The very same day member of the youth group GiorgiOboladze was also detained in Tkibuli, Dato Kublashvili in Tbilisi. According to thedetainees lawyer, Irakli Shavadze, all three of them were questioned as witnesses in relation

to a case involving theft and illegal deprivation of liberty, and released soon after the

questioning.

VakeOn August 12, 2012, member of the Georgian Dreams youth group Giorgi Ebralidze wasdriving in a cab when law enforcement officers forced him out of the vehicle and took himto the police department.

Giorgi Ebralidze talked to ISFEDs LTO about the incident. According to him, when the cab

stopped for a traffic light, men dressed in civilian clothes approached it, opened the door and

30http://info9.ge/?l=G&m=1000&id=2975-
http://info9.ge/?l=G&m=1000&id=2975-http://info9.ge/?l=G&m=1000&id=2975-http://info9.ge/?l=G&m=1000&id=2975-http://info9.ge/?l=G&m=1000&id=2975-


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asked Ebralidze to get off the vehicle. They presented employee cards confirming that they

were officers of the Interior Ministry and asked him to follow them.

The police officers took Ebralidze to the police department N1 in HYUNDAI TUCSON,

where he was interviewed first by deputy chief of the department and later by the chief of

the department. At the department he was asked about the place of his employment towhich Giorgi Ebralidze responded that he works at the coalition Georgian Dream. Later he

was asked whether he was paid or not for the work that he dead for the coalition. After the

interview he was taken for a drug test and after the drug test he was released.

KhoniOn August 21, 2012, two activists of the coalition Georgian Dream Soso Sulava and KobaKublashvili visited Roman Liparteliani, director of Khoni Municipality Cemetary LogisticalService, Roman Liparteliani, recalled him from his office and demanded that he stopintimidating voters.31

The same day, Roman Soso Sulava and Koba Kublashvili were detained on charges of petty

hooliganism under Article 166 of the Code of Administrative Offences, based on the

application filed by Roin Liparteliani.

According to the record of offence, on August 20, 2012, at around 15:00, activists of the

Georgian Dream Ioseb Sulava and Koba Kublashvili visited the administrative office of

Municipality Cemetery Logistical Service in Khoni located at 3 Mose Khoneli Street, where

they verbally insulted head of the service Roman Liparteliani in presence of his fellow-workers by using bad language and threatening to break his knees. They demanded that he

stop supporting the UNM.

The court found both guilty of administrative offence and sentenced them to 70 days of

imprisonment.

Activists of the coalition Georgian Dream are categorically denied the allegations about

abuse and making threats and plead not guilty. They believe that this has to do with the fact

that several days before the incident Levan Bobokhidze, brother of MP Akaki Bobokhidze

from Khoni told them youre not going to have the pleasure of elections.

Rustavi

31 Khoni office of the coalition Georgian Dream had received reports about Roman Liparteliani prohibiting

citizens from attending the coalitions meetings;


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On August 19, 2012, lawyer Kakha Mumladze was attending an assembly held by the

coalition Georgian Dream. After the rain started falling, Kakhaber Mumladze and his friend

went in the restraurant El Depo at Shartava Square. Later three young men entered the

restraurant. One of them, Azar Mamedov was wearing the UNMs agitation shirt. In an

interview with ISFEDs LTO, Kakha Mumladzes lawyer Irakli Gabrichidze said that Azar

Mamedov was acting in an aggressive manner, rudely telling the personnel: cant you see

who I am? You need to hurry up, and was pointing to his shirt. Kakha Mumladze suggested

he act politely, take off the shirt and come back to the restaurant without it.

Later the patrol police detained Kakhaber Mumladze and court sentenced him to 90 days ofimprisonment on charges of hooliganism under Article 166 of the Code of Administrative

Offences.

After his detention, Kakha Mumladze started a hunger strike, as he says that he is subject to

inhuman treatment.

As lawyer Irakli Gabrichidze stated, they appealed the decision of Rustavi Court and

therefore, they plan to apply to the European Court of Human Rights in the nearest future.

BolnisiOn August 22, 2012, members of the coalition Georgian Dream held an assembly outside

Bolnisi court to protest detention of their supporterNoe Akhashvili.The police detained supporter of the coalition Georgian Dream Noe Akhashvili charged

under Articles 166 and 173 of the Code of Administrative Offences petty hooliganism and

resistance to orders of a law enforcement officer.

Novik Akhashvili was detained by law enforcers with his son, around 22:00 without any

explanation.32

The trial was held on August 22, 2012. Akhashvili was sentenced to 85-day imprisonment as

he was found guilty of offence envisaged by Articles 166 and 173 of the Code of

Administrative Offences. Supporters of the coalition Georgian Dream believe that the fact

had to do with political activities of Novik Akhashvili.33

32http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qskeNyQgfMw33http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qskeNyQgfMw
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VI. Interference with the work of NGOOn August 17, 2012, ISFEDs LTO in Oni Municipality was contacted by an individual from a

cell-phone number 577 5569 25, who identified himself as an officer of the Constitutional

Security Service, Davit Basilashvili and told her that there was an agreement under which

representatives of NGOs should selected monitors for the Election Day in cooperation withthem. Therefore, he offered that she consider candidates for the position of six monitors.

TerjolaOn August 22, 2012, activist of ISFEDs Terjola District LTO, Natia Dadunashvili of thevillage of Ghvankiti, who was actively working with ISFEDs LTO, was summoned by the

village trustee Mirian Robakidze and suggested that for future employment and prospects,the position of their monitor was better than ISFEDs.

The following day specialist of the village trustee, Dadu Amiranashvili, offered Natia

Dadunashvili GEL 200 in return for help in distribution of a program for animal vaccination

in the village. The activist refused to cooperate with ISFED several days after.

KhobiOn August 25, 2012, ISFEDs LTO requested access to public information from Khobi N66

District Election Commission in frames of the monitoring mission.

Chairperson of the DEC Mindia Lomaia informed ISFEDs LTO that the request was nothingmore than the monitors whim. Further, despite a number of requests, the monitor was

provided with the bank account information for depositing the fee for making a copy of

public information. Therefore, the monitor could not receive the information in a timely

manner.

TbilisiStarting from April 2012, ISFED has been requesting access to various types of public

information from local self-governments in frames of its long-term monitoring mission, bymeans of which it monitors budgetary funds and social projects.

The monitoring revealed problems in access to public information throughout Tbilisi. More

specifically, the method frequently practiced by Tbilisi City Hall, Sakrebulo and Gamgeobas

with regard to release of public information is referral of applicants to Tbilisi City Halls

websitewww.tbilisi.gov.ge, which frequently does not contain the information requested by

monitors in written.
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VII. Interference with and Obstruction of Journalistic Work34Khulo

President Saakashvili and leader of the coalition Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishviliwere both in resort of Beshumi, Khulo District, at the time of public celebrationShuamtoba on August 2, 2012. During a clash between their supporters,

correspondent of Channel 9 Natia Rokva was physically assaulted. As the journalistnoted in an interview with ISFEDs LTO, she turned to the patrol officers standing

nearby for help but they ignored her request. 35 The footage shows a man who

assaulted the journalist but he remains unidentified.

According to correspondent of Maestro TV Sopo Zhghenti, the very same daysupporters of the UNM wearing the UNMs shirts hit her with a hand when she was

preparing a material about Bidzina Ivanishvilis meeting with voters in the resort of

Beshumi, and started moving towards the camera. The journalist turned to a policeofficer standing nearby but her claim was ignored.

In an interview with ISFEDs LTO, journalist of Maestro TV Sopo Zhgenti said thatduring the incident in Beshumi supporters of the coalition Georgian TV were

aggressive towards Real TV Company and interfered in their work.

BatumiOn August2, 2012, at the Piazza Square in Batumi, Presidents security officer had a reporterof Batumelebi newspaper, Manana Kveliashvili, delete the photos she had taken during aconcert of Valeri Meladze.

These were photos of the president and chairman of the Government of Adjara Levan

Varshalomidze. In an interview with ISFEDs LTO, Manana Kveliashvili stated that after she

finished taking photos, she was approached by a man dressed in black who introduced

himself as a representative of the presidents security service and demanded she delete the

photos. When she asked about the reason why, he never responded.

According to Manana Kveliashvili, she was standing far away from people and therefore, shecould not resist and deleted the photos.

34 The facts below show signs of crime envisaged by Article 154 of the Criminal Code of Georgia disruption of

journalistic reporting;35http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxn5rMxZJ7Y&feature=share
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GoriOn August 8, 2012, camera crew of Maestro TV was preparing a report about people

displaced following the Russia-Georgia war in Khurvaleti Settlement in Gori. Some locals

were aggressive towards journalist Tamta Gazashvili and did not allow her to record on

camera. Some of them told her that only the foremen had the right to talk to them.

One of the foremen told the journalist that they were the ones controlling the situation in

the settlement. Eventually, a group of citizens started throwing rocks at the journalist and

forced her to leave the territory36.

ChokhatauriOn August 9, 2012, President Saakashvili was meeting local population in the resort of

Bakhmaro, Guria. As reported by Guria News, certain journalists were not allowed to attend

the meeting and Natia Bandzeladze, head of the presidents press service told journalists that

they could attend the meeting only following accreditation.37

As reported by Guria News, during the presidents visit in Bakhmaro press-zone was not

prepared despite the fact that he presidents administration undertook this commitment

during a meeting with the IATF and journalists.

MarneuliOn August 23, 2012, the coalition Georgian Dreams office in Marneuli was informed that a

fire had started in the village of Khikhani but the rescue service ignored their calls. LiaTushuri, head of the coalitions office in Marneuli called the fire station and asked forassistance. She herself left for the village Khikhani together with other members of the party.

At their arrival in the village, several police crews and Gamgebeli also arrived. A brother of

Gamgebeli Tengiz Jaiani, Davit Jaiani was intimidated by camera crews and verbally insultedLia Tushuri, as well as journalists of Info 9. He broke their camera. The police did not react

to the fact. The incident has been video-recorded and there is a corresponding footage.38

36http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpmpmRK8ZBQ&feature=player_embedded#!37 http://gurianews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5109:2012-08-19-06-44-

07&catid=66:2010-11-25-16-47-31&Itemid=111

38http://info9.ge/?l=G&m=1000&id=3160
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GurjaaniOn August 16, 2012, journalist of Gurjaani Information Center Natalia Sarkisashvili wasinvolved in an incident in the village of Velistsikhe while working.

The journalist was interviewing the population affected by a natural disaster in the village ofVelistsikhe, who had not received compensation for the damage. Suddenly she was

approached by an employee of Gurjaani water supply company and the UNMs supporter

Guram Gurgenashvili who demanded the journalist present her ID card and strictly warned

her to stop recording. Nevertheless, Natalia Sarkisashvili continued to interviewing the

population. Guram Gurgenishvili got intimidated and started obstructing the work of the

journalist in an aggressive manner. He was hitting her in her hands and did not allow her to

continue working freely.

In an interview with ISFEDs LTO Guram Gurgenashvili explained his actions by saying that

he did not want to be captured by the journalist and therefore, he was intimidated.

Natalia Sarkisashvilis version of the incident is completely different. According to her, she

was not aiming at capturing any concrete individual, let alone Guram Gurgenishvili. To the

contrary, Gurgenishvili was following her and did not allow the journalist who was already

in the car to talk on the phone.39

LanchkhutiOn August 15, 2012, at 19:00, civil servant were getting on mini busses outside the offices of

Lanckkhuti Municipality Gamgeoba. Journalist of Info 9 Nino Kheladze and a cameraman

Davit Chavlelishvili were filming the fact. One of the young men approached to the minibus

and demanded the journalist take away her microphone. He threw a punch at the

cameraman who suffered damage in his head and face as a result. The bleeding cameraman

was immediately taken to the hospital where he received a first aid. As to the unidentified

man, he was taken away from the scene by employees of the municipality. Media outlets

identified him as Zurab Kvirkvelia a spouse of Nato Nutsubidze, a secretary of formerGamgebeli and current candidate for the position of MP, Gia Goguadze. The law

enforcement authorities questioned Nino Kheladze and Davit Chavleishvili the very same

evening. ISFEDs LTO contacted the victim who confirmed the fact. Currently his healthstatus is satisfactory but he is still unable to work. It has been reported that Z. Kvirkvelia was

sentenced to 20 days of imprisonment as administrative punishment.

39http://ick.ge/ka/articles/11988-----n2.html
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SagarejoCandidate of the coalition Georgian Dream for the position of majoritarian MP, TinaKhidasheli was holding a meeting with voters outside a market in the village of Iormungaloon August 17, 2012. At the meeting representatives of the municipal authorities appeared,

attempting to disrupt the meeting.

The meeting later grew into a clash between supporters of the coalition Georgian Dream and

representatives of the local authorities, as well as into hindering of journalistic reporting. 40

As instructed by Mehidkhan Vekilov, son of Tulari Sakrebulos member Vekil Vekilov,several young men grabbed a whole pack of newspapers to prevent them from distributing.

After the meeting, representatives of the local authorities physically insulted a journalist of

Info 9, Giorgi Nanuashvili and damaged his camera.The following individuals were actively involved in the clash Alakhiar Abdulaev,Gamgebeli of the village of Lambalo; Vekil Vekilov, member of Sakrebulo of the village of

Tulari; niece of Gamgebeli of Keshalo Village Tavtukh Kachiev and an employee of

Gamgeoba41, previously convicted Ilgar Gajyev, who was trying to break a camera into

pieces42.

40http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rfZWGY8BeE&feature=player_embedded41The action perpetrated by public servants violated Article 166 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. The case

involves disruption of the political work; also, there are signs of hooliganism. The incident also amounts to

misuse of administrative resources and gross violation of Article 61 of the Law on Public Service;42http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rfZWGY8BeE&feature=related
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VIII. Misuse of Administrative ResourcesDushetiOn August 27, 2012, ISFED learned that welfare assistance was terminated for two familiesliving in Dusheti in August 2012, based on alleged political grounds43.Welfare assistance was terminated for the families of Vakhtang Mighdiseli and KabaKarchaidze. Both believe that ithad to do with the fact that they support the coalitionGeorgian Dream.

Head of the social service, Lasha Janiashvili informed ISFEDs LTO that these families were

verified based on the report they had received. The assistance has been terminated for both

families. The declaration filled out by the social agent was sent to the central office in Tbilisi,

where the families received scores according to a special program.

When verifying the fact, ISFEDs LTO was informed by members of the families of Migdiseliand Karchaidze that a social agent visited them on August 9 and recorded information about

vehicles which are not the property of their families.

ChokhatauriOn August 19, 2012, President Saakshvili was holding a meeting with the population in ther

esort of Bakhmaro, Guria. Footage released by Guria News shows police officers distributing

the UNMs agitation shirts among the population.44 They were also receiving instructions

about distribution of agitation shirts.

KedaThe program for free of charge registration of agricultural land plots in Keda is ongoing,

covering several communities of Keda Municipality. The program was launched in July 2012

43 The fact is in conflict with the recommendation issued by the IATF on June 13, 2012, saying that during the

pre-election period the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs should terminate revision of social andeconomic condition of citizens registered in its welfare assistance database. The recommendation is available at:

http://www.nsc.gov.ge/geo/elections2012.php?typ=1#start

44http://gurianews.com/index.php?option=com_seyret&Itemid=189&task=videodirectlink&id=229

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33&catid=74:2010-11-26-08-07-22&Itemid=125
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isfed fifth interim report eng

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