Justice Minister Denies Opposition’s Accusations of Violations

Justice Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili has denied opposition allegations that their representatives were “forced out” of three polling stations in Tsalka, in southern Georgia.

She confirmed that an incident had taken place. She claimed that the head of the nine-party opposition coalition’s local campaign office had insulted two people outside a polling station and that a scuffle had ensued.

“[He] came to the polling station and insulted several people of a minority background, who were standing outside [the polling station]. An investigation is already ongoing. Such actions against minorities will never be tolerated in our country,” Tkeshelashvili said at a press conference.

She also responded to allegations made by the opposition Labor and New Rights parties, who said that their representatives had been prevented by police from getting to the villages of Nuli and Avnevi in the South Ossetian conflict zone.

“I want the public to understand something: these people who claim this, insisted on taking a road known to have a South Ossetian checkpoint. The local [Georgian] authorities actually suggested they take a bypass road, but they refused,” the justice minister said.

Tkeshelashvili chairs a government inter-agency group dealing with possible violations during the election campaign.