Fractions Change Names in Municipal Boards

There are currently two fractions in Lanchkhuti municipal board: the National Movement (former majority) and Lanchkhutelebi (Lanchkhuti resident). The latter is headed by the former member of the Christian Democrat Movement, Marika Turnava; the fraction members are Levan Chkhaidze and former member of the UNM, Nugzar Khavtasi.

We were told at the Georgian Dream rally that Nugzar Khavtasi had filled in their support application even before elections – in August. Chairman of the Lanchkhuti municipal board Revaz Chitidze did not have information about it.

One more member of the aforementioned fraction (member of the political party New Rights) Davit Tsuladze applied to the mandate commission of the Municipal Board with the request to quit the fraction. Nowadays, he is member of the Georgian Dream- Democratic Georgia party and continues membership of the municipal board.

Marika Turnava quit the Christian-Democrat Movement after Elections and joined the Republic Party.

Turnava told humanrights.ge that she intends to change the name of the fraction into “Georgian Dream – Democratic Lanchkhuti.”

The Lanchkhuti district majoritarian MP, Temur Chkhaidze, commented on this issue, “Of course everybody knows that there was instruction not to allow similar things in municipal boards and not to use Georgian Dream’s name; however this happened in Tbilisi City Council. So, they can change the name of the fraction and will still do much good in the district.”

An application on the establishment of a new fraction will be filed to the Ozurgeti municipal board in the near future.

Humanrights.ge learned that former leader of the majority Temur Mokia, Guranta MP Merab Mzhavia and a board member elected from the former ruling part, Petre Salukvadze, will file the application to the municipal board.

The name and head of the new fraction is not known yet.

Nino Mshvidobadze, Guria