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Political Union Centrists promises Russian pensions electorates

August 15, 2016
 
Manon Bokuchava, Kvemo Kartli

The leader of the political union “Centrists Temur Khachishvili promised citizens of Rustavi to get additional 400 GEL pension from Russia. 

Khachishvili called on the population of Kvemo Kartli region to register in the Rustavi office of the political party “Centrists” and receive so called “Russian pension” equal to 400 GEL. He made the announcement on TV-Radio Station Kvemo Kartli. 

Khachishvili said the government of Russia needs to know how many citizens of Georgia want to receive the pension. Khachishvili clarified on TV that whoever registers till October 8, will receive the pension already from 2017 but those who will be late, will get the increased pension from2018. 

Khachishvili said that the political union “Centrists” signs individual contracts with voters on behalf of Temur Khachishvili. According to the contracts, the voters will take the responsibility to take part in the elections. Consequently, after the elections, the contracted person will receive 400 GEL Russian pension 50 days after the Election Day. 


“According to the legislation, if election subject, directly or through its representative, via physical or legal person, who operate in its favor, bribes voters, gets unregistered based on the court decision if the facts of bribery are confirmed”, - reads the statement of the ISFED. 

NGO International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) says the political union “Centrists” try to attract voters with Russian budget, which is against the election law and principles of conduct of the political parties.

ISFED talks about the article 47 of the Election Code. It says the election subjects shall not give money to the voters or make such kind of promises.

The political union responds to the accusation of the NGO through published letter in the social network “Facebook”. 

“Similar practice is common in Israel. The citizens of Israel, according to similar contract, get pensions from Russia, which is equal to Georgian 400 GEL. As for the ISFED, we think they directly implement the instructions of the Embassy of the United States”, - the statement of the political party reads. 

On August 13, Tbilisi City Court did not satisfy the plea of the NGO “Fair Elections” to cancel the registration of “Centrists”. The judge David Tsereteli clarified that the election body has right to present the program of future activities to the voters. The judge clarified that the article 47 of the Election Code was not understood in compliance with other articles of the Election Law. 

Nino Rizhamadze, the representative of the “Fair Elections” says that similar judgments establish wrong practice.  She added that their appeal was legally well-grounded and the NGO will continue the dispute at the Appeal Court. 

Besides the NGO sector, acting MPs also confronted the political union “Centrists”.  They assessed the promises of the political union as violation of the constitution. 

While the part of the society tries to stop “Centrists” via legal mechanisms, the political union continues to make contracts with the electorate regarding the Russian pension in the regions. Each of those contracts is sealed by “Centrists”, on which the symbol of Russia – big bear – is carved.

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