Fair Elections stands for the protection of observer's rights
11/06/2003 | Фідель
Fair Elections stands for the protection of observer's rights
On November 2, 2003 representatives of international as well as local observation missions were deployed to Adjarian Autonomous Republic to monitor elections. Among them were observers from Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), who participated in Fair Elections observation mission.
One of them was Giorgi Mshvenieradze, who was monitoring elections at the polling station #23 in Kobuleti District #81. Mshvenieradze observed serious violations at the polling station. He repeatedly pointed these violations to PEC members. Due to the problems he had at the polling station, he asked GYLA representatives to send him some assistance.
When OSCE observers came to the polling station #23, Giorgi Mshvenieradze showed them that Commission members were keeping empty ballot papers under the registration journal; he also draw their attention to the person who was going to vote and had several empty ballots in the pocket. The person, who appeared to be policemen, insulted Giorgi Mshvenieradze. While trying to avoid violation Mshvenieradze was beaten by several persons at the polling station.
GYLA representatives took Giorgi Mshevnieradze away from the polling station. However in the city he was stopped by the representatives of the prosecutor’s office and was taken to the police station for interrogation. PEC representatives accused Mshvenieradze of distracting election process at the polling station (Criminal Code of Georgia, Article 163).
On 4th of November charges against Giorgi Mshvenieradze were changed. Today he is accused of committing Hooliganism (Criminal Code of Georgia, Article 239.3), committed by use of guns or any object applied as a weapon, in this case the backpack is referred as a weapon; interfering with the expression of will by voters (Criminal Code of Georgia, Article 162), and resistance against protector of public order or other government representative (article 353).
On 5th of November Kobuleti district court ordered three months pretrial detention of Giorgi Mshvenieradze.
Giorgi Mshvenieradze is 21 years old, law school student and one of the most active members of GYLA, volunteering in street law programs and teaching children civic classes.
Fair Elections joins the statement made by Georgian Young Lawyers Association and addresses international and Georgian society to attach significance to this fact and direct their efforts toward protection of arrested observer's rights.
On November 2, 2003 representatives of international as well as local observation missions were deployed to Adjarian Autonomous Republic to monitor elections. Among them were observers from Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), who participated in Fair Elections observation mission.
One of them was Giorgi Mshvenieradze, who was monitoring elections at the polling station #23 in Kobuleti District #81. Mshvenieradze observed serious violations at the polling station. He repeatedly pointed these violations to PEC members. Due to the problems he had at the polling station, he asked GYLA representatives to send him some assistance.
When OSCE observers came to the polling station #23, Giorgi Mshvenieradze showed them that Commission members were keeping empty ballot papers under the registration journal; he also draw their attention to the person who was going to vote and had several empty ballots in the pocket. The person, who appeared to be policemen, insulted Giorgi Mshvenieradze. While trying to avoid violation Mshvenieradze was beaten by several persons at the polling station.
GYLA representatives took Giorgi Mshevnieradze away from the polling station. However in the city he was stopped by the representatives of the prosecutor’s office and was taken to the police station for interrogation. PEC representatives accused Mshvenieradze of distracting election process at the polling station (Criminal Code of Georgia, Article 163).
On 4th of November charges against Giorgi Mshvenieradze were changed. Today he is accused of committing Hooliganism (Criminal Code of Georgia, Article 239.3), committed by use of guns or any object applied as a weapon, in this case the backpack is referred as a weapon; interfering with the expression of will by voters (Criminal Code of Georgia, Article 162), and resistance against protector of public order or other government representative (article 353).
On 5th of November Kobuleti district court ordered three months pretrial detention of Giorgi Mshvenieradze.
Giorgi Mshvenieradze is 21 years old, law school student and one of the most active members of GYLA, volunteering in street law programs and teaching children civic classes.
Fair Elections joins the statement made by Georgian Young Lawyers Association and addresses international and Georgian society to attach significance to this fact and direct their efforts toward protection of arrested observer's rights.