Discussion of Complaints of Election Violations Finished in Batumi

Maka Malakmadze, Adjara

Election results from only one Precinct # 65 in Kobuleti DEC  was annulled in Adjara during Presidential Elections of October 27. Fines were not imposed on any commission members for the violations. Members of three PECs in Batumi DEC will have their ten-day salaries deducted.

Many complaints were not filed for October 27 elections in Adjara. Shuakhevi DEC did not discuss any complaints at all. DEC Chairman Tamaz Takidze said complaints were filed neither to their office nor in any precincts.

One complaint was discussed in Khulo DEC, which was filed by the observed of the nongovernmental organization ISFED. DEC Chairman Nodar Meladze said, the violators were rebuked: “A voter had not signed the table voters’ list due to inattention of the registrar. Though the register had signed the list. The commission had even drawn up a protocol on the violation.”

Khelvachauri DEC discussed eight complaints. Five of them were submitted from the precincts. DEC Chairman Omar Varshanidze said all complaints were partly satisfied except two. “The complaints were submitted on distribution of functions as a result of lot; in one case the seal did not have carve; in the PEC # 24 the commission member publicly announced his choice that was violation of the law. Every violator was rebuked.”

Kobuleti DEC discussed 16 complaints; main part of them were about procedural violations. Despite that the DEC chairperson positively evaluates the work of the commissions. “In one precinct, the commission members forgot to seal the final protocol. We held session and repeatedly counted votes. Everything was correct except the seal. It was result of their inattention.”

Results were annulled at Precinct # 65 because the control paper was not properly filled in. “There was only mobile box in this precinct; it was precinct for address-less voters. Due to incorrectly filled in control paper, the results were annulled. PEC Chairman, deputy chairman and secretary were rebuked,” the Kobuleti DEC Chairman Gela Khakhnelidze said.

Keda DEC Chairman Ali Nakashidze said five complaints were submitted to their office. “Mostly they referred to procedural violations. All of them were satisfied. Disciplinary liability was imposed on the violators. The irregularities were caused by the haste of commission members. I cannot blame them in lack of knowledge because they attended three trainings.”

Unlike other DECs, 23 complaints were filed to the Batumi DEC. The chairman Kakhaber Jayani said some of the complaints were satisfied: “They were procedural violations. Based on the complaints from PECs # 2, 97 and 21, several commission members will have their salaries of ten days deducted. ISFED appealed three decisions regarding the PECs # 2, 5 and 21. The court ordered us to repeatedly discuss them. We did not change our decision with regard to the PEC # 5.”

According to the final results, candidate of the Georgian Dream Giorgi Margvelashvili won elections in all six districts of Adjara. He gained most votes in Kobuleti DEC – 60, 76% and the least in Shuakhevi DEC – 54, 34%. UNM’s presidential candidate Davit Bakradze beat him in four precincts of Shuakhevi DEC.