“It Is Violation” – CSOs Respond to the Party Meeting in the District Administration

Saba Tsitsikashvili, Shida Kartli

Representatives of the Georgian civil society organizations evaluated participation of the head of local office of the Georgian Dream in the session of the Kaspi district administration, where he addressed to the employees to quit jobs, as oppression on the personnel. Representatives of the Fair Elections [ISFED], Transparency International – Georgia and Human Rights Center made comments about it.

On September 3, 2013, at 11:00 am – working hour, Kaspi district majoritarian MP Davit Onoprishvili presented a new district governor Gocha Gochitashvili to the municipal board.

When the session started, where only employees of the district administration and attorneys of territorial entities participated, head of local office of the Georgian Dream Ramaz Berianidze entered the hall.

“We must learn how to hold elections. The Election Day shall be a holiday and celebration… We will see the result of our tandem – of Davit Onoprishvili, district governor, your slave – Ramaz Berianidze and you in the upcoming election. I know that some people from the previous government still work here and if you still want to be slaves of one leader, join the United National Movement together with your family members. Before the new governor announces optimization here, those, who come to the office just to drink coffee, shall personally decide to quit jobs. We know everybody very well,” Ramaz Berianidze told the employees of the district administration. His speech was video-recorded.

Employees of the district administration and attorneys protested Berianidze’s speech at the separate meeting with the new governor.

“We are insulted; why he spoke about coffee. His tone and manner was annoying,” the employees said.

“If something is done in this country, it is done by the Georgian Dream. If somebody does not keep promises, he/she must go,” Kaspi district majoritarian MP Davit Onoprishvili gave instructions too.

Head of ISFED Nino Lomjaria said she will inform the Interagency Task Force for Free and Fair Elections about this fact. “It is evident that the political party oppresses the employees of self-governmental agency. I watched the video and it is not healthy pre-election environment. Representative of the political party, who has no connection with the district administration, makes political statements. It is sort of oppression and interference in the activities of the self-governmental agency. In fact, the party representative misuses administrative resource,” Nino Lomjaria said.

Transparency International – Georgia also studied the case. “We discussed this case in the organization. It cannot be evaluated as a violation of the election code but general situation during the session is inadmissible,” Levan Natroshvili of the TI-Georgia said. Their representatives are also members of the IATF. 

Lawyer Tamar Lukava of the Human Rights Center said that the party member oppressed the public servants during the session. “He addressed to the members of the National Movement to quit jobs. He compels them to adjust new rules and new relations. In accordance to the election law it is not a violation but it is fact that in general it is not healthy process,” Tamar Lukava said.

IATF will study the case and make conclusion at the next session. It is not excluded that IATF members will request the ruling party to impose political liability on Ramaz Berianidze.