23:41, 6 November 2003

Election observer was detained in Ajaria

Election observer from the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) Giorgi Mshvenieradze was detained and sentenced to three-month pre-trail detention by the Ajarian authorities.

Giorgi Mshvenieradze, 21, was detained by the police on November 2, while he was monitoring the elections in Kobuleti. He is accused of hooliganism and deliberate attempts to impede elections at one of the precincts of Kobuleti.

According to the GYLA, Giorgi Mshvenieradze was arrested when he noticed a case of ballot-stuffing.

"Giorgi Mshvenieradze was exercising his duties and rights as an observer and we hope that the Ajarian court will be just," Tina Khidasheli of the GYLA says.

International, as well as local observers reported numerous irregularities during the elections in Ajaria. Some opposition parties demand cancellation of the election results in Ajaria because of the mass ballot frauds in the Autonomous Republic.

Source: Civil Georgia On-line Magazine