Authorities, Opposition Call for Non-Violence
Levan Mamaladze, one of the members of the presidential-backed election bloc For New Georgia and candidate for MP in the Bolnisi single-mandate constituency, called his opponents on September 29 ?for a dialogue in order to hold parliamentary elections in a peaceful atmosphere.?
?We urge to all political parties to exercise good will and reach an agreement in order to hold elections without confrontation and extremism. I am ready to meet with all my opponents,? Levan Mamaladze said at a news briefing on September 29.
Leader of the opposition New Rights party Davit Gamkrelidze offered today setting up a group of representatives of mass media and non-governmental organizations to monitor the upcoming elections. Gamkrelidze suggested legal expert Davit Usupashvili to lead the group.
Gamkrelidze condemned the incident that took place on September 26 in Bolnisi, Kvemo Kartli region, when dozens were injured as a result of clash between the opposition National Movement and election bloc For New Georgia?s supporters.
A further clash between police and National Movement supporters took place in the western Georgian town of Senaki on the same day.
Mikheil Saakashvili, leader of the National Movement accused the government of deploying police against the opposition and seeking a direct confrontation on the eve of the parliamentary elections scheduled for November 2.
A criminal case has been opened into the Bolnisi incident; however the authorities try to absolve the presidential-backed election bloc For New Georgia for the clash. Deputy Interior Minister Ruben Asanidze said that the police and the local authorities were the victims of the clash.
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