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“It is better to support new” – Archimandrite at Pre-election Meeting of Margvelashvili

October 25, 2013

Manon Bokuchava, Kvemo Kartli

On October 23rd, electoral staff of Margvelashvili held meeting with the sportsmen. The head of the staff Amiran Bitsadze introduced views of new government in the sphere of sports. The sportsmen who attended the meeting stated that they are “faithful people” and will support “who it is necessary to support.” In about 20 minutes after the meeting started, archimandrite joined Grigol Abashidze.

The floor was given to Archimandrite after the head of the staff and sportsmen gave speech. “I have been priest in Rustavi for 7-8 years and I love this city. I want to bless the whole Rustavi and tell you that the first thing we need to consider here is that I do not interfere in politics, but people of Ivanishvili freed us from these witches. For this only we have to bless these people (The speech is interrupted by applause). UNM interfered in the work of church! God bless you. It is better to support new even if you do not know it,” – Archimandrite stated.

On the question, whether the spiritual figure has right to join electoral campaign, he told us that we do not know Election Code. “Why do I not have right to encourage people to support good?! Like my right to participate in elections, I have right to attend these meetings and make a speech” – spiritual figure states.

During the meeting, Archimandrite got acquainted with the campaign material and heard the electoral program of candidate of Georgian Dream.

“I personally did not invite this spiritual figure to the meeting. Everybody who was interested came to the meeting. I do not see the problem here. As for the Election Code, I am aware of it and I do not think we violated anything” – The head of Rustavi Electoral Staff of Margvelashvili Amiran Bitsadze stated.

According to article 45 of Election Code of Georgia, charity and religious organizations do not have right to participate in pre-election agitation. According to lawyer of Human Rights Center Nestan Londaridze, this Code contains certain faults as it does not indicate that spiritual figures do not have right to participate in electoral agitation. He states that spiritual figure is associated with the religious organization he is representing and is not perceived as an ordinary citizen supporter of the candidate.”

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