Ombudsperson Calls for Fair Elections, Alarmed with Violence

(Tbilisi. February 26, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Georgian Public Defender said today, while delivering report on human rights record in Georgia for the first half of 2002 to the Parliament, that the way pre-election campaign is held “is alarming.”

“It is clear that the pre-election campaign has already started. I urge all the political parties and the authorities to ensure conduction of fair and democratic elections without violence,” Nana Devdariani said at the Parliamentary session on February 26.

“Violence during the election must be inadmissible for the political groups,” She said. “It is also unacceptable of involvement of the law enforcement agencies in the political process,” Devdariani added.

Ombudsperson also urged the political groups and the authorities to reach a consensus regarding the drafting of the new Election Code.

Parliamentary elections in Georgia are scheduled for October 2003.