18:42, 28 November 2018

Opposition claims large-scale violations at Georgian presidential election

A polling station in Georgia. Photo: SPUTNIK / LEVAN AVLABRELI https://sputnik-georgia.ru/election-2018/20181128/243159656/V-Gruzii-nachalsya-vtoroy-tur-vyborov-prezidenta-strany.html

The Georgian opposition and the police expressed different opinions when assessing violations committed during the election. The "United National Movement" (UNM) Party reported that voters were bribed at polling stations all over Georgia, while the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) noted the calm situation during the voting.

On Wednesday, Georgia holds the voting at the second round of the presidential election. The first round took place on October 28. Following its results, Salome Zurabishvili, an independent candidate supported by the ruling "Georgian Dream" Party, and Grigol Vashadze, a candidate from the opposition UNM Party, entered the second round to run for presidency.

Zaal Udumashvili, one of the leaders of the UNM Party, reported cases when voters had been bribed at different polling stations.

"In general, the facts of total bribing of voters take place at almost every polling station," said Zaal Udumashvili on the air of the "Rustavi-2" TV Company.

An investigation has been launched into four reports of violations committed at the election, reports Nino Djavakhadze, Georgian Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs.

In Georgia, the website "dzalaertobashia.ge" monitors violations committed at the election. As of 4:05 p.m. Moscow time, the website registered 788 reports on violations, committed mainly in Tbilisi (383).

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 28, 2018 at 04:26 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.