Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

Single Mandate Candidate from Opposition Party Speaks of Repression

May 8, 2008

Jumber Ananidze, who will stand for elections in Kobuleti, states that government representatives had repressed his supporters.

“Activities of the government are stealing from us democratic elections. It is actually impossible to carry out a pre-election campaign. Badri Ananidze, who works as my driver, even had his driver’ license taken away from him yesterday by the police; they took his phone away and then threatened him. He was finally given the mobile phone back and when we saw each other last he told me that could no longer work for me.”

Ananidze said that his relatives are also being repressed. “Politics of threatening is very active in Kobuleti. Voters are warned against voting for opposition candidates and they are then threatened by various methods. They visit my relative and neighbors, warn and threaten that they will be fired from jobs, prison terms will be prolonged or that people that are now free will be arrested.  I cannot say that Kobuleti Police Department does it deliberately, or they have received such orders from higher authorities.”

Jumber Ananidze is General-Major, veteran of Afghanistan and Abkhazian wars. He has high standing in Kobuleti in terms of reputation. During the Rose Revolution he supported current government. Later, however, as a result of on-going situation in the country, he decided to cross over to the opposition. Ananidze now warns the government: “They must not use police against democratic elections; they must not suppress voters. We must let out citizens to make right choice on their own. Otherwise this suppression will be the start of uncontrollable processes.”

Maka Malakmadze, Batumi

News