Intermediate Report Research of Pre-election Period - The Human ...

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“We welcome positive amendments to the election system of Georgia and a pre-election effort that aims to ensure the accuracy of the voters‟ list, provide transparency in campaign finance, and expand media accessibility throughout the country, but we do not want to remain blind to problems in the country. We discussed those problems with almost every party. We observed some problems – there may be partiality in the activities of law enforcement institutions, mainly the State Audit Office. We discussed the activities of these institutions with experts and interested parties and warned them that they are acting with “unclear” instructions. Another issue of concern is the judiciary. We wish to see courts operating in a transparent and unbiased manner and intervening with neutrality on various issues. There is enough time to eradicate these problems. We are observing huge polarization in society. We might be mistaken, but political rivals, governmental officials and opposition parties apparently do not share equal values. We want to witness an election which will be a celebration of democracy in Georgia,” Tonino Picula said. He added that the members of the mission will continue monitoring the issues which are a cause of particular concern to the mission and will keep and eye on the ongoing process. “We have seen a growing political polarization in the country. We are particularly concerned by the practices of certain law enforcement institutions in Georgia. In our view, the State Audit Office is using broad discretionary authority to investigate the legality of individual or party spending, making questionable decisions and imposing harsh penalties without clear or transparent guidelines. The fines levied are disproportionate and are apparently being applied in a selective manner mainly targeting one political subject,” the head of OSCE PA Pre-Election Mission stated and added: “A fair and independent judiciary system is also fundamental to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections. After this visit, we have concerns about the possibility of receiving a fair legal judgement from the court system.” 84
OSCE PA President Riccardo Migliori said: “In the final weeks of this campaign I hope the Georgian authorities will commit to a credible election and help create a level playing field for all parties.” In addition, Migliori said he detected signs of Leninism in the ongoing election campaign in Georgia. 123 “We are on an important mission in this country during the pre-election monitoring. These elections are of great importance for your future. The elections should be another important moment in Europe. This is the goal of the governmental and opposition parties. There is a little part of Leninism in this electoral campaign. They don‟t present programs but try to destroy rivals. There are no enemies in this society. Political parties shall necessarily present their programs and ideas to the population. Georgia is an important nation, an important place in the Caucasus; it is a beacon of democracy and we are here to make this beacon more important,” Ricardo Migliori said after the August 22 meeting with Davit Bakradze, chair of the Parliament of Georgia. Concern of Co- Rapporteurs from OSCE PA Mission Before the members of the OSCE PA Pre-Election Mission expressed their concern, the corapporteurs made a statement where the excessive and disproportionate fines imposed on opposition parties by State Audit Office were strictly criticized. According to the official website of the CoE, PACE rapporteurs for Georgia express concern about financial actions against the Georgian Dream coalition. 124 Co-rapporteurs from Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on honouring Georgia‟s obligations expressed concern over seizure of bank accounts of political parties within the Georgian Dream opposition coalition and said that “disproportionate fines” levied by the State Audit Office “effectively undermine normal political activity by an opposition party.” 123 http://www.palitratv.ge/akhali‐ambebi/politika/20598‐ra‐problemebs‐khedavs‐euthos‐saparlamento‐asambleis ‐vice‐prezidenti‐saqarthveloshi.html 124 http://assembly.coe.int/ASP/NewsManager/EMB_NewsManagerView.asp?ID=7891&L=2 85
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Human Rights Center (HRIDC) Interme
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Contents Introduction -------------
Page 5 and 6:
Standards for Assessment of Pre-ele
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partners started to have problems (
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administrative resources is prohibi
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several political bodies (party or
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On December 27 2011, nine months be
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amendments to the Constitution) spe
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sexual activity with a male employe
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standing away from the perimeter in
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shooting the incident; suddenly the
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leave the party in time they would
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school Kamila Khevsurishvili threat
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Dream. Nodar Javakhishvili told Int
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Nobody commented on the fact from t
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the cottage; they verbally and phys
Page 33 and 34: Commission, does not allow them to
Page 35 and 36: On August 23Suliko Mikeladze and Ir
Page 37 and 38: said they were from police. I asked
Page 39 and 40: “Yesterday, late in the evening,
Page 41 and 42: 28. Free Georgia‟s regional offic
Page 43 and 44: 32. Ledi Natadze, member of the ele
Page 45 and 46: on July 29 she was called back and
Page 47 and 48: presumably is activist of the Natio
Page 49 and 50: got out of the cars. They started b
Page 51 and 52: in my car and everybody confirmed t
Page 53 and 54: Based on the applications, the char
Page 55 and 56: We checked part of the information
Page 57 and 58: We call upon the State Audit Office
Page 59 and 60: 56. During the night of August 7, 2
Page 61 and 62: and slapped him. The former went an
Page 63 and 64: officers, disobeyed and offered res
Page 65 and 66: 74. Nugzar Kapanadze - was arrested
Page 67 and 68: Instances of questionable arrests i
Page 69 and 70: Due to the aforementioned circumsta
Page 71 and 72: Sagarejo district former governor G
Page 73 and 74: Center gets funds from the Akhmeta
Page 75 and 76: eporters for alleged "espionage". J
Page 77 and 78: Mkinvartsveri. Several days later h
Page 79 and 80: According to ICK products will be g
Page 81 and 82: Conclusion As a result of monitorin
Page 83: At the same time, the State Audit O
Page 87 and 88: “Up to date, only a small portion
Page 89: Human Rights Center Al. Kazbegi Ave
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