International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy

Pre-Election Monitoring of the Runoffs of October 8, 2016

Parliamentary Elections
Interim Report

October 9 27

This report is made possible by the generous support of the American people, through the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of ISFED
and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government

1. About the Monitoring Mission

The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) conducted preelection monitoring of the runoffs of October 8, 2016 majoritarian elections of the
Parliament of Georgia through its 38 long-term observers (LTOs) in all electoral
districts where the runoffs will be held. The monitoring is supported by the United
State Agency for International Development. The present report of pre-election
monitoring of the runoffs of the parliamentary elections covers the reporting period of
October 9-27, 2016.

2. The Runoff Elections and Participating Electoral Subjects

In the first round of majoritarian MP races of the October 8, 2016 parliamentary
elections, winning candidates were identified only in 23 out of 73 single-mandate
constituencies. Consequently, for the remaining 50 majoritarian seats the second
round of elections had to be scheduled. The Central Elections Commission (CEC) set
the date of majoritarian runoffs in 50 electoral districts for October 30.
By virtue of the Election Code of Georgia, a candidate that garners more than 50% of
votes in the first round of majoritarian elections will be the winner. If there are no
winners in the first round of elections, the second round will be called where the top
two candidates that gained most votes in the first round of elections will be
competing.
Following the first round, top two candidates in 44 majoritarian electoral districts are
from the Georgian Dream Democratic Georgia and the United National
Movement; in two districts the highest numbers of votes were received by the
Georgian Dreams majoritarian candidate and independent majoritarian candidates; in
another two districts candidates of the Free Democrats and the Georgian Dream will
be competing for the seats; in one majoritarian district the runoff will identify a
winner between Topadze-Industrialists and the Georgian Dream candidates, and in
one majoritarian district a candidate of the United National Movement and an
independent candidate will be competing against each other.
The Georgian Dream candidates are leading in 46 districts where the runoffs will be
held, the UNM candidates are leading in two districts, and Topadze-Industrialists
candidates and independent majoritarian candidates are lading in another two.
In two of the fifty majoritarian constituencies where the runoffs will be held, two
majoritarian candidates opposition leaders Sandra Roelofs (the UNM) and Irakli
Alasania (the Free Democrats) announced withdrawal from the second round contests.
According to the CEC, their names will remain on election ballots because the
Election legislation does not envisage the possibility of cancelling registration of
candidates that qualify for the second round of elections.
On October 22, reruns were held in the electoral precinct no.36.22.48 of the
majoritarian electoral district no.36 and in the electoral precincts nos. 66.67.38,
66.67.79 and 66.67.108 of the majoritarian electoral district no.66, where results of
the October 8 elections were invalidated because the results in these precincts may
have influenced the results of the majoritarian MP elections.

In the runoff elections in Marneuli, UNM majoritarian candidate Ahmamed

Imamkuliev won in the precinct no.36.22.48 and the Georgian Dream majoritarian
candidate Edisher Toloraia won in the precincts nos. 66.67.38, 66.67.79 and
66.67.108 in Marneuli. However, neither was able to clear the 50% threshold in the
first round of elections in majoritarian districts nos.36 and 66.

3. The Pre-Election Environment

With calling of the runoff elections, opposition party candidates are reporting acts of
harassment and intimidation of their supporters or coordinators in different electoral
districts. Most of the candidates that reported harassment of opposition supporters by
authorities and the ruling party activists are candidates of the United National
Movement and the Free Democrats.
ISFED observed the following incidents during the pre-election period of the runoff
elections: 2 cases of physical confrontation, 8 cases of intimidation/harassment on
alleged political basis; 1 case of dismissal on alleged political basis; 2 cases of
abuse of administrative resources and vote buying. During the pre-election
period we also found that PEC members were present in the Georgian Dreams
campaign office on 2 separate occasions.
Violent incidents that occurred at three polling stations in Zugdidi and Marneuli
electoral districts on the polling day created a negative setting for the pre-election
period.
The police had a differentiated and disproportionate response to the violent incidents
that occurred at three electoral precincts of Marneuli and Zugdidi. In particular, the
police mobilized outside the electoral precinct no.79 of majoritarian electoral district
no.66 in Jikhashkari failed to take adequate actions after the polling station was
invaded. An observer from the international organization Norwegian Helsinki
Committee reported that although the police was outside the polling station, they did
not take adequate measures against perpetrators. An international observer was
assaulted at the polling station but the law enforcement authorities failed to intervene.
In response to the violent incident of Marneuli, the Interior Ministry performed a
special operation early in the morning and arrested 6 people. All six individuals were
remanded in custody, while in Zugdidi where electoral precincts were invaded by
dozens of people, only two suspects were detained; one was remanded in custody and
another was released on bail.
The states differentiated response to these incidents gives rise to suspicions about
selective approach to the criminal offences perpetrated during the pre-election period.

4. Physical Confrontation

Kharagauli

On October 10, local media outlets reported that a member of the PEC appointed by
the United National Movement in v.Ubisa, Davit Makhatadze was assaulted by local
leaders of the Georgian Dream. Davit Makhatadze filed a subsequent police report. 1
According to Davit Makhatadze, in the evening of October 9, Borta Gamgebeli Valeri
Barbakadze, a resident of Ubisa Malkhaz Sebiskveradze, a resident of Borta Gia
Tkemaladze and an unidentified individual visited her at home. They brought him out
of the house, said that they had lost the elections because of him and assaulted him
physically. Then they got in a car and drove away.
Later when Davit Makhatadze was in Kharagauli, the above individuals visited his
home again and assaulted members of his family.
On October 13, ISFED long-term observer contacted a representative of the UNM
local office, Ketevan Zumbadze for details and asked her to comment as to why the
incident occurred, but according to Ketevan Zumbadze, she is not sure what
happened. Malkhaz Sebiskveradze, who Davit Makhatadze mentioned in a newspaper
interview, denied all allegations during an interview with ISFED observer and said
that nothing happened. According to him, it was a misunderstanding about a personal
issue and the incident has been resolved, because he is very close with Davit
Makhatadzes family, they are relatives.
Subsequent investigation has been launched under Article 125 of the Criminal Code.

Samgori

On October 12, one of the leaders of the United National Movement Sergi
Kapanadze reported during a TV program Archevani on Rustavi 2 that supporters of
the Georgian Dream had beaten the UNM youth organization members in Vazisubani.
The UNM candidate Giorgi Oniani stated that nearly 30 activists of the Georgian
Dream attacked members of his office with batons and awls. As a result, one of them
sustained physical injuries and was taken to a hospital unconscious.
Campaign office of the Georgian Dream majoritarian candidate, Irakli Abuseridze
provided a different account of events. According to him, Goga Onianis supporters
appeared outside Abuseridzes campaign office at 23:30, near a supermarket. They
were drunk and acted aggressively as they made obscene remarks about the Georgian
Dream and its majoritarian candidate Irakli Abuseridze. Next they had a clash with
passersby.
Subsequent investigation has been launched. Giorgi Oniani demanded that a footage
from nearby surveillance cameras be made public and believes that the ruling party
candidate and his supporters are to blame.

http://chemikharagauli.com/?p=12836#.WA8oAeB97IW

5. Acts of Harassment and Intimidation on Political Grounds

This chapter provides an account of individual cases of harassment and intimidation
against opposition supporters and activists on political grounds, which paint a picture
of a violent pre-election campaign. These facts contain signs of criminal offence and
warrant timely and effective response by the law enforcement authorities.

Chiatura

Following the first round of the elections, majoritarian candidate of Free Democrats in
Chiatura Teimuraz Gaprindashvili reported on numerous occasions that the
Georgian Dream majoritarian candidate Sulkhan Makhatadze harassed him and his
supporters.
ISFED long-term observer contacted Gela Kapanadze, head of the Free Democrats
local office and a leader of their youth wing Tamar Zhghenti to verify the report.
They confirmed the information but were reluctant to provide any details because
Chiatura is a small town, everyone knows everyone, and nobody wants to talk in
front of the camera.
According to them, supporters are threatened with removal of social benefits and
dismissal from public service unless they support the governments candidate.
On October 24, ISFED long-term observer met with Mr. Gaprindashvili, who stated
that the police is now involved in the harassment. For instance, in v.Tabagrebi local
population was warned to support the Georgian Dream candidate. A name of Giuli
Kupatadze was provided, who was threatened by the ruling party coordinator, Roman
Abesadze with removal of social benefits.
On October 24, ISFED observer interviewed Giuli Kupatadze personally. He
confirmed the report.
The Georgian Dream coordinator Roman Abesadze rejected making the threat but he
confirmed that he had a talk with Giuli Kupatadze. He said that he knows Kupatadze
is Gaprindashvilis supporter.

Gurjaani

On October 26, the UNM released a video footage possibly showing a coordinator of
the Georgian Dream in Kachreti, Givi Ramazashvili making threats against a PEC
member appointed by the UNM and warning him to turn off his phone on October 30
and not to appear at the PEC.
According to Nikoloz Mazanashvili, he was intimidated by the Georgian Dream
activist, Givi Ramazashvili. On October 20, Givi Ramazashvili met with Nikoloz
Mazanashvili and asked him to meet in the office of the Georgian Dream to talk. They
met on October 20, around 22:00, in the Georgian Dream office in v.Kachreti. Givi
Ramazashvili demanded that Nikoloz Mazanashvili resign from the PEC; otherwise,
he threatened to make him disappear.

In what is allegedly an audio recording of a conversation between the two, Givi

Ramazashvili is telling a PEC member, Nika Mazniashvili: On the 30th [the day of
the runoffs] youll turn your phone off, you are no longer in the commission,
understand? Just disappear. Im warning you quietly. Dont do anything stupid, I
dont want to see you in the commission ever again. The government has won and we
will win to the end.
In an interview with ISFED observer, Givi Mazniashvili rejected all allegations and
said that Nikoloz Mazanashvili is computer-savvy and he made a fake recording.
Ramazashvili maintains that he is not and has never been a member of the Georgian
Dream office, he only supports the government.

Telavi

According to the UNM majoritarian candidate in the majoritarian elctoral district

no.27 - Giorgi Botkoveli, Telavi Resource Center was summoning kindergarten
managers and school principals based on instructions of the Georgian Dream
candidate, Irakli Sesiashvili, and demanding that they present a list of 15 employees
that supported the Georgian Dream.
ISFED interviewed a member of the Georgian Dream office, Sopo Sisauri, who
categorically rejected the allegation and said that the Georgian Dream office and the
candidate did not pressure school principals or kindergarten managers in any way.
ISFED observer tried to verify the report with several school principals and
kindergarten managers but they didnt confirm the fact. One of the kindergarten
managers confirmed only part of the report but he chose to stay anonymous.
According to the kindergarten manager, they were told to provide the lists but it was
on a voluntary basis and no one pressured them.
The Georgian Dream majoritarian candidate Irakli Sesiashvili told Rustavi 2 TV that
he did meet with nearly 300 teachers and asked them to bring other supporters. 2

Kobuleti

Principal of Daba Chakvi School, Tariel Katamadze reported threats by a highranking official. According to Katamadze, he and his wife, who is a manager of a
preschool, were threatened with dismissal because they are viewed as opponents of
the ruling party. Katamadze was reluctant to provide name of the official. He reported
the incident by social media. 3

2
3

See the report at: http://rustavi2.com/ka/news/59579

See Batumelebi article about the issue: http://batumelebi.netgazeti.ge/news/59313/

Adigeni

Head of the local UNM office Simon Parunashvili reported that around 12:00, a
neighbor asked a resident of Adigeni Municipality, Gela Kulijanishvili to help him
start his car. As Kulijanishvili approached the car, he found four unidentified
individuals who forced him into the car and threatened to beat him unless he and
members of his family voted for the Georgian Dream candidate, Giorgi Kopadze.

Kutaisi

On October 14, in Avangardi Settlement, the Georgian Dream activist Kakha

Abzianidze visited the UNM coordinator, Lamara Kapanadze in her home. He told
Kapanadze not to go to the polls unless she voted for the Georgian Dream. They
spoke loudly, which led to an argument. Kapanadze told Abzianidze that she would
continue to be the UNM activist. Later on October 25, at 02:00am, the same man
appeared in the yard outside Lamara Kapanadzes building and started yelling and
swearing at Kapanadze. Lamara Kapanadze didnt respond and Abzianidze left the
yard in a few minutes.

Poti

After PEC members resigned for personal reasons on October 18, 19 and 20, the DEC
announced a competition to fill 19 vacant positions. A total of 23 people applied. 19
new PEC members were elected by majority of votes. Only member of the
commission that objected was Misha Pachkoria from the UNM, who alleged that the
PEC members had been pressured into resigning. The DEC chair stated that the PEC
members cited family or health reasons in their resignation letters and according to
him, any other investigation of the matter was beyond the scope of his competencies.
On October 25, online newspaper TSPress.ge reported that PEC members said they
were pressured by the Georgian Dream. ISFED long-term observer tried to contact
them to verify the report but was only able to reach 14 former members of the PEC.
Most of them stated that they had reassigned due to family reasons or because they
were too busy to serve as a commissioner. All except one UNM supporter
categorically denied affiliation with any of the parties.
In an interview with the LTO, former head of the PEC no.61.70.21 stated that he
made the decision at night on October 8, due to the baseless accusations by political
parties, which offended his professionalism and civic responsibility.
On October 21, ISFED long-term observer was informed that the City Hall officials
and members of the campaign office of the Georgian Dream majoritarian candidate
Irakli Khakhubia were meeting with the PEC members inside the City Hall, after
19:00. To verify the report, the LTO tried get inside the City Hall building but the
security officer refused to let her in. At around 21:30, several individuals, possibly
candidates for the PEC membership, were seen existing the building. They denied
having attended a meeting and refused to clarify the reason why they were at the City
Hall.

Later a member of the campaign office of the Georgian Dream majoritarian candidate
- Irakli Khukhubia, Gia Darjania denied presence of PEC members at the City Hall
and said that there was no meeting. Another member of Khukhubias campaign
office, Lela Burkvadze stated the same, while the majoritarian candidate himself
categorically denied having met the PEC members and said that he had the right to
spend time with his friends at the City Hall outside working hours. A reporter from
Tspress and LivePress, Iza Salakaia was at the scene together with a cameraman, who
captured the meeting participants existing the City Hall building on a video.

Adigeni

Principal of v.Pkhero School, Valiko Velijanashvili summoned teachers and janitors

and told them that he has a list of 14 people that support the UNM candidate, Vazha
Chitishvili. He said that these people should fold ballot papers on the Election Day in
a manner that will let the Georgian Dream representative in the electoral commission
see that they circled the name of the Georgian Dream candidate, Giorgi Kopadze.
Otherwise, he said he would sack all 14 employees. ISFED observer interviewed the
school janitor, Nino Khariashvili who confirmed the report. She also serves as a
member of the PEC, appointed by the UNM. According to her, Head of Adigeni
Resource Center Inga Bochorishvili had instructed the school principal to have the
meeting with the teachers.

6. Dismissals on Alleged Political Grounds

Akhaltsikhe

Maka Sudadze, a member of Akhaltsikhe Community Sakrebulo from the UNM

reported that her brother was dismissed from work for supporting the UNM.
According to Maka Sudadze, her brother Mamuka Sudadze has been working as the
head of economic division at the legal entity of public law Akhaltsikhe Sports School
for 13 years. Before the elections he was warned to refrain from any activities in favor
of the UNM but he ignored the warning. On October 10, his boss told him that the
City Hall had demanded his dismissal. Mamuka Sudadze responded that he was not
going to hand in a letter of resignation. On October 17, Mamuka Sudadze found a
letter of severe reproof for absence without a valid reason, dated October 5, and an
order of dismissal dated October 12.
According to Maka Sudadze, for years his brother went to work 2-3 times a day but
he never had any problem about it.

7. Participation of Commission Members in Meetings of the Ruling Party

Telavi

On October 25, it was reported that the UNM has a video of members of different
PECs gathering outside the campaign office of the Georgian Dream.
ISFED observer contacted the UNM to verify the report. According to the UNM, they
do have the video and they plan to make it public during a court hearing.
The UNM addressed the District Electoral Commission and demanded imposition of
fine on PEC members that participated in the meeting.
According to the Secretary of Telavi DEC, they have identified 12 individuals that
attended the meeting and issued a protocol of administrative offences against them.
The protocol has been referred to court.

Khelvachauri

On October 15, the UNM released a video showing members of PECs nos.1, 32, 38,
40 appointed by Khelvachauri District Electoral Commission at the campaign office
of the Georgian Dream. Head of the campaign office has categorically denied any
visit for electoral purposes. According to Jumber Vardmanidze, he was in Tbilisi on
October 15 and he never saw the PEC members.
On October 17, the UNM representative Mamuka Kobuladze filed a complaint with
the DEC over presence of the commission members in the party office and demanded
termination of their official powers. The DEC granted part of the complaint by
terminating official power of one PEC member. Official power of two PEC chairs
was terminated based on their letters of resignation for personal reasons.
As to identification of remaining individuals captured by the video, like it was
requested in the complaint, due to a poor quality of the video it is impossible to
identify them and this part of the complaint was rejected.

8. Abuse of Administrative Resources and Possible Vote Buying

Khashuri

In an interview with ISFED observer, majoritarian candidate of the Georgian Dream

in electoral district no.43, Valeri Gelashvili stated that he blames Giorgi
Guraspashvili for his lack of success in the first round of the October 8 elections.
According to Gelashvili, due to the incompetent performance of his campaign office,
which was staffed by Gamgebeli, he performed poorly in the elections.
Later on October 22, Valeri Gelashvili met with employees of Khashuri Municipality
in his own hotel Iveria. The meeting was attended by Deputy Gamgebeli Zurab
Chkhitunidze among other civil servants.

A possible recording of statements made during the meeting was released by Shida
Kartli Information Center on October 25. Based on the recording, a man possibly
identified as Valeri Gelashvili is asking the local self-government employees for their
support in the second round of elections; in exchange for their support, he promises to
increase their salaries. Deputy Gamgebeli makes a direct mention of using
administrative resources by saying: we need to go to the polls together with our
families, administrative resource is something that we should use.

Surami

Works for connecting Rustaveli Street in Surami to the drinking water supply system
were launched about 1 week ago, with the aim of providing 120 families in Surami
with drinking water. According to locals, Valeri Gelashvili is paying for the works
form his personal budget.
Valeri Gelashvili informed ISFED observer that he didnt spend any money on the
infrastructural works for providing drinking water.
According to a representative of Khashuri Municipality Public Relations Office, Nino
Sukhiashvili, the works are performed by a non-profit (non-commercial) legal entity
Khashurservisi but the funding has not been provided from the local budget; they
dont know where the funding was provided from.

9. Political Context ahead of the Runoffs

Reactions by electoral subjects

Political parties had mixed reactions about the first round of the October 8, 2016
elections. Some opposition parties recognized the election results while others,
unlike international and local observers, reported election fraud and mass violations.
In the night of October 9 while votes were counted in electoral precincts, the United
National Movement staged a rally outside the Central Elections Commission and
accused the government of election fraud. 4 The UNM leaders blamed the CEC for
publishing protocols and results late, and for publishing select protocols, alleging
that protocols according to which the Georgian Dream gained over 50% of votes
were the first ones to be published by the CEC. They said that they didnt trust the
electoral administration and demanded a meeting with the CEC Chair.
Leaders of the UNM and the CEC chair met in the early morning of October 9. At
the end of the meeting, the UNM representatives stated that they didnt receive

See the video material at: http://unm.ge/ge/videos/akcia-ceskos-shenobastan

answers to their questions and announced that they planned to hold internal
consultations about subsequent forms of protest. 5
Later the former president of Georgia and former chair of the UNM, Mikheil
Saakashvili urged the UNM to boycott results of the elections as well as the runoffs.
Although members of the party had different thoughts about this 6, during a meeting
of the political council on October 11, the UNM made a decision to enter the
parliament and participate in the runoffs. 7
However, following announcement of results of the reruns on October 22, the UNM
candidate in the majoritarian district no.66 and number 2 on the UNMs
parliamentary list, Sandra Roelofs announced that she was not going to participate
in the runoff. 8 According to Roelofs, victory had been stolen from her and because
the elections were clearly unfair, she was not going to participate in the second
round. Roelofs decision was criticized by some leaders of the UNM. 9
Notably, the leader of the UNM in Ajara A/R, Levan Varshalomidze released
several videos on days following the elections, illustrating violations in the polling
and the vote counting process in several precincts, which warrant investigation by
the electoral administration and the law enforcement authorities.
Because of results of the first round of the elections, leader of the Free Democrats
and the majoritarian candidate in Gori, Irakli Alasania, who gained enough votes to
qualify him for the second round of elections, announced his decision to quit
politics for now and said he wouldnt participate in the runoff. 10 Following
Alasanias announcement several other leaders of the Free Democrats decided to
leave the party. 11
According to the Executive Secretary of Free Democrats, the party suspects that
their representatives in about 100 precincts made an agreement with the government
in exchange for money or other favors and the party made a decision to withdraw its
representatives from nearly 400 PECs.
The electoral subject Nino Burjanadze Free Democrats announced that they
didnt trust the election results and demanded recounting of votes by the CEC.
According to the CEC, the party filed a total of 235 complaints with the election
administration, majority of which was not granted or was left without consideration.
On October 26, Nino Burjanadze announced that her party withdrew PEC members
from all electoral precincts in an attempt to boycott the elections because of alleged
vote rigging.

See Nika Melias comments at: http://www.interpressnews.ge/ge/politika/401442-nika-melia-ceskosthavmjdomaris-mimarth-dasmul-kithkhvebze-nacionaluri-modzraobis-liderebma-pasukhebi-vermiighes.html?ar=A

6
http://www.interpressnews.ge/ge/politika/401645-davith-darchiashvili-nacmodzraobashi-meoreturshi-monatsileobasthan-dakavshirebith-azrtha-skhvadaskhvaobaa.html?ar=A
7
See the UNMs decision: http://unm.ge/ge/news/politikuri-sabchos-mier-migebuli-gadacqvetileba
8
See the announcement of Roelofs: http://www.interpressnews.ge/ge/politika/403341-sandra-rulovsimeore-turshi-monatsileobas-ar-miighebs.html?ar=A
9
See Sergo Ratianis comments: http://liberali.ge/news/view/25458/ratiani-sandra-rulovsisgadatsyvetileba-aris-samtsukharo-da-garkveultsilad-damazianebeli
10
See Alasanias statement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGuYhd6qKUc
11
Leaders of Free Democrats are abandoning the party: http://bit.ly/2dMuK7o

Leader of the Georgian Labor Party, Shalva Natelashvili demanded that the October
8 parliamentary elections be deemed as illegitimate. According to him, all
government bodies were involved in vote rigging. The party received 3.12% of
votes. According to Natelashvili, none of the parties should enter the so-called
parliament and repeat elections should be called.
Other parties that participated in the elections do not believe that their lack of
success was due to vote rigging. For instance, the Republican Party believes that the
election results had to do with polarization of public opinion. According to the
leader of the party, Davit Usupashvili, the electoral administration clearly lacked
qualifications and this was especially evident during counting of votes.
Giorgi Vashadze, one of the leaders of the bloc Paata Burchuladze State for the
People believes that invalidated ballots were manipulated but no large-scale vote
rigging took place. Results of the elections were recognized by a leader of another
member of the bloc, New Rights, Manana Nachkebia.

Unsubstantiated
Organizations

Criticism

Towards

Some

Election

Monitoring

Following the October 8 elections, different supporters and public figures affiliated
with opposition and ruling parties openly made insulting or criticizing statements
about qualified and objective local monitoring organizations in social media and in
other media outlets. These were unsubstantiated and contradictory accusations that
lacked merit. Opposition supporters criticized some monitoring organizations for their
failure to act and adequately react on violations, while supporters of the ruling party
maintained that monitoring organizations were too critical in their assessments.