Charity Organization Fined with Two Thousand Lari

Nino Mshvidobadze, Guria

Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association petitioned to the Central Election Commission [CEC] with regard to the violation of the law requirements on the pre-election campaign (agitation). The authors of the petition allege that on August 4, 2013, charity organization carried out agitation in favor of concrete political party during their charity event in Guria region; more precisely, the organization organized the charity event together with the political party and their representative made statements in support of the political party.

According to the GYLA, international organization Georgian Women for Peace and Life gave wheelchairs to 12 persons with disabilities in Ozurgeti on August 4. 

Chairperson of the organization Maya Kvezereli made comments about the event with journalists in the Ozurgeti district office of the Georgian Dream in front of the GD’s logo.

She confirmed with media that they gave presents to the beneficiaries in Chokhatauri and Ozurgeti together with the political party.

Maya Kvezereli: “On August 3, representative of the municipal board met us in Chokhatauri, who is also a member of the Georgian Dream. He showed us a long list of beneficiaries so we decided to organize this event together with the Georgian Dream. There are many people with disabilities, I looked through the lists of state programs and there are many people with these problems in three districts of Guria region.”

Journalist asked whether this fact would cause some inconvenience during pre-election campaign, Kvezereli said:

“We do everything on behalf of the nongovernmental organization; we are not political organization. We do not cooperate with any political party. Georgian Dream applied to us for help and we brought wheelchairs. Where do you see cooperation with a party here?!” Kvezereli wondered.

Chairman of the Ozurgeti district office of the Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia Dato Darchia also commented on the fact with media. “Mrs. Maya has already replied to your questions. I want to personally thank her for this friendship. Elections have nothing to do with our initiative.”

Various nongovernmental organizations responded to this fact.

International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy [ISFED] noted in its second report pre-election report that “In violation of the Election Code of Georgia, charity organization Women for Peace and Life pursued agitation in favor of the Georgian Dream coalition. It provided wheelchairs to persons with disabilities free of charge, made a public statement from the office of the Georgian Dream in Ozurgeti and expressed gratitude for the support provided by the coalition. This way, it engaged in pre-election agitation violating the applicable law.”

In their petition to the CEC, GYLA requested to react on the fact. As a result, nongovernmental organization Georgian Women for Peace and Life was fined with two thousand lari for the violation of the Election Code.