Kokoiti’s Elections Were Controlled by Deputies from Russian Duma

“Georgian observer speaks about total fraudulency in Tskhinvali polls”.

The only organization which was registered as an observer during the elections in the South Ossetian territory was Joint Civil Movement ‘Multinational Georgia’. It was registered by Tskhinvali electoral commission. Representatives of the organization had right to arrive at every polling station. The head of the group was Arina Tavakarashvili, Chairwoman of the ‘Multinational Georgia’s Shida Kartli office. She represented the only Georgian organization that was allowed to visit electoral districts and observe situation.

Arina Tavakarashvili: ”The legislation allowed us to visit every polling districts and stations. However, Ossetian representative, who accompanied our group, categorically refused us to take to Java. The reason was that he could not take responsibility to protect us. He said that there was anti-Georgian atmosphere there and we would more likely be insulted there. We knew that he lied to us. De-facto authority did not want to show how elections were falsified outside Tskhinvali. Besides that, it was clear that Sanakoev should have had more supporters in villages.

According to the agreement, we were to move around by car. Ossetian companions were to follow us by their car, but this agreement was violated from the very beginning. They made me leave a car in front of the Immigration Service Office and travel by their car. Their representative arrived at the De-facto border at 10 o’clock. The elections started at eight in the morning but we arrived at the first polling station at 10:55.  So we could not witness sealing of the ballot-box and visit of the first voter. I think the climax of violence started in the afternoon.

-How did Ossetian people meet you at the polling stations?

-We used to be registered at every district. There were so many people at the third polling station that we could not get useful information there. I wanted to take a photo of a ballot-box, which was surrounded by a lot of people. I could not make out who was a voter and who was a chairman of the electoral commission. Having left the place I saw buses and ‘Vladikavkaz’ was written on them. I immediately understood that Russian citizens also took parts in the elections.  I noticed similar buses nearly at every station. Members of the electoral commission used to tell me that more than half of the voter had already arrived at the place. If so, at least one person voted in a minute that is incredible. 

-Citizens of the so-called South Ossetia also live in Vladikavkas. They might have arrived to vote in those buses?

-Polling districts were in the North Ossetia as well and Tskhinvali people could go there.  Thus, it is quite clear why those buses were there.

-How many districts did you visit in Tskhinvali?

-There were eighteen electoral districts in Tskhinvali and we visited all of them. We wanted to observe others as well but they did not let us. I met foreign observers there. It was totally impossible to sort out who was member of the commission and who was a voter. Though, I was in their territory, I remarked them for having no identification badges.

There were places where few people arrived to vote. However, large amount of voters was reported. In fact, it was impossible. We saw so-called ‘Ballot staffing’ occurred and mobile groups of people took part in it. We met one and the same mobile groups everywhere. The difference in data during the intervals was great.

One Russian journalist was particularly active. He tried to interview me. I was telling him that I was an observer and could not say anything. He asked me if I noticed that many people had arrived. I answered he was right but I did not know who the people were. So many people were sitting near the ballot-box that it was impossible to make out who was who. He did not like my answer and left me. It is clear that the people in the buses would certainly make queues.”

-Did you observe any fact of agitation carried by any official?

-Having arrived at the Central Electoral Commission of the de-facto government I met Zatulini. He handled the situation and gave directives. Chairman of the SEC was too polite to us and served tea. I stopped there for a while having seen some familiar and strange faces. I asked about strangers and they told me they were deputies of Duma.
At one of the polling station I was told in proud that assistant of Zhirinovski helped them there. But when they found out that I was from Georgia they did not tell us his name.

-Did any incidents take place there?

-Every polling district was locked from two sides and uniformed people controlled them. Most of them looked like Russians. Militiamen were at several places. I took photos of the facts by my mobile phone. They prohibited me to take any photo because I was in their territory. I explained them that I was only shooting polling process.

Finally, chairman of the electoral commission declared to me, that I was to give him written conclusion about the elections. I refused to sign anything. He gave me a sheet of paper and a pen, journalists were watching me and I was to sign the empty paper. I politely explained him I had right to refuse, and promised that I would write in my report whether elections succeeded or not. The chairman said I would disfigure everything when I am in Georgia.

Situation was too tense and elections cannot be declared legal. Of course, Kokoiti had his supporters, but it could not be a large number of people. We should take in consideration that armed policemen were everywhere.

Saba Tsitsikashvili, Gori