Georgian Students Abroad Urge CEC to Cancel Fraudulent Results

Georgian students and young people living abroad sent an open letter addressed to the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission Nana Devdariani urging to cancel results of November 2 parliamentary elections in those regions where mass ballot fraud and irregularities were reported.

Below is the text of the open letter:

Ms. Nana Devdariani,

We, Georgian students and young people living abroad who consider Georgia to be our homeland and feel great concern toward the future of our country would like to address you on this historical day. We would like to assure you that we don’t stand behind any political force and the only motivation for writing this letter is the desire to build a civil society and form a state that would make the protection of freedom, equality, and welfare of its own citizens and the development of Georgian culture into the reason for its being.

We strongly believe that the November 2 elections could and still can make a noticeable contribution in bringing Georgian political reality to the demand of the time. We saw in the elections a chance to take a step away from a medieval and clan-based mode of power towards a modern state built upon transparent structures and institutions. This hope has not completely faded and this is the reason why we are writing this letter.

Democratic elections have a genuine meaning only within the context of democratic regimes where free will is not subdued.  In the absence of such conditions the results of the “elections” become a dangerous weapon with which to crush freedom in the tradition of political cynicism. Taking into account those votes coming from certain regions that give 90 percent advantage to one political force instead of supporting democracy undermines its foundational principles. Even if the massive ballot fraud had not taken place in these regions, the results at hand are the manifestation of the fact that free elections have not taken place there. Thus we consider it to be your moral duty to annul the result of the elections in these regions and schedule its repetition with the conditions that the freedom of choice be granted.

You are given a chance to play a decisive role at this critical point in the history of our country and we want to urge you to take a strong stand guided by high principles.

With respect:

Giorgi Lebanidze
Koki Peradze
Natia Chakvetadze
Vakhtang Dolidze
Zviadi Eliziani
Koka Kvartskhava
Alex Maisuradze
Manuchar Mamukishvili
Nato Panchulidze
Zviad Ksovreli
Nino Palavandishvili
Ucha Gogishvili
David Dzidzikashvili
Aleksandre Ksovreli
Galina Amashukeli
Irakli Tskhakaia
Davit Meskhi
Irina Mylnikova
Lali Kipshidze
Maia Tevzadze
Levani abaiadze
Alexsi Mestvirishvili
Manana Gagua
Vazha Nadareishvili
Otar Sarishvili
Eliso tsiklauri
Rusudan Chkhubianishvili
David Khatidze
Rati Jebashvili
Keti Lashkhi