Local Election Watchdogs Give Figures on Intimidation of Observers
Three local election watchdog groups reported about cases of intimidation on their observers during the polling day on May 21.
The joint statement issued by International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) and Transparency International–Georgia (TI-Georgia) gives statistic of cases of pressure on their observers reported before the polls were closed at 8pm local time on May 21.
It says that cases of intimidation and pressure on ISFED observers were observed at 14 polling stations and in 9 cases its observers were denied to file complaints to the precinct election commissions.
TI-Georgia, which had its observers in the Shida Kartli region, reported 12 cases of pressure and intimidation on its observers. It also said that its observers were denied to file complaints at 21 polling stations.
GYLA said there have been 14 cases of intimidation of its observers, including expulsion from the polling stations during the election day. It also said that there had been four cases when its observers were denied to file complaints.
These three organizations set up a joint media center to coordinate dissemination of information on the election campaign. The fourth local observer organization, New Generation-New Initiative (nGnI), is also part of this joint group. It, however, was not joining the joint statement by three other groups.
Koki Ionatamishvili, head nGnI, in his first early assessments stressed mainly on positive aspects of the work carried out by election administrations and said that in the most of the polling stations commissions managed to conduct electoral process in frames of the law.
