Press briefing of the MIA Strategic Communications Department Director – Ketevan Kovziashvili
The Ministry of Internal Affairs continues to take active measures and actions to ensure the elections are conducted in safe environment. Police mobile groups patrol throughout the country.
All facts within the mandate of police are imminently responded, upon which we periodically inform the society, additionally Ministry is in close coordination with international and local observing organizations.
We will start with the information regarding one of the of last incidents occurred in Tbilisi, Vazisubani at one of the polling stations, police is mobilized at spot. Ministry of Internal Affairs in undertaking all the relevant measures to deescalate the situation and to enable the peaceful continuation of the election process.
For the current time, MIA has launched investigation on the alleged 8 facts of crime, one person has been accused and detained.
In particular:
Member of the “National Movement” physically assaulted journalist of TV Company “Monitoring” at Kareli N2 polling station. On the fact Kareli regional division of the Shida Kartli Police Department launched investigation on Unlawful interference with the journalist's professional activities and for violence at a polling station under Art. 154 part 2 and 162 1 part 1, of the Criminal Code of Georgia. Police has detained G.K. born on 1972 as an accused.
Investigation was launched as well in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Police Department on the fact of unlawful interference with journalist’s professional activity. The investigation established, that in Poti, at the polling station N12, TV “Pirveli” journalist was illegally appropriated the microphone attribute, that was lately returned. As per the journalist, as a result of mentioned confrontation she got minor health injury. Investigation on this fact is in progress under the part 1 of the Article 154 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
Based on the report of the majoritarian candidate of “National Movement”, investigation has been launched into the fact of threat. As per the candidate, he was verbally abused and threatened with loss of life by a citizen. Investigation is in progress under the part 1 of the Article of 151 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
Adjara Police launched an investigation on the fact of damaging other’s property under the Article 187 of the Criminal Code. Based on the information provided by the journalists to the investigation, in Gonio, on the territory adjacent to polling station, activists damaged the vehicle owned by TV “Formula” after verbal confrontation with the journalists of TVs “Mtavari” and “Formula”. Investigative actions are underway, including interviewing of the participants of the incident.
The investigation has been launched into the fact of confrontation in Tbilisi, in “London Square” . The investigation determined that one of the citizens in the square noticed an alleged violation of the election law. According to the citizen, he received the lists belonging to the agitator, after which several young people physically and verbally abused the citizen. Old Tbilisi Main Division is conducting the investigation under Article 126, Part 1, Subparagraph "b" of the Criminal Code.
Based on the report of the observers of “National Movement”, the investigation has been launched under Article 126, part 1 of the Criminal Code on the alleged fact of violence in Tbilisi, in Didi Digomi, at the polling station N40. According to the observers, the people sitting in the garage owned by the resident of the building near the polling station were being videotaped, when verbal and physical confrontation started. According to one of the observers, he/she received injuries during the confrontation and required to be taken to the hospital. At this stage observers refused to attend the police station for an interview.
The criminal investigation is in progress regarding two cases of the alleged violence, already known to the public.
- On the fact of the physical assault, that took place near the polling station N20 in Zugdidi, the investigation was launched by Zugdidi Police Division under Article 126 envisioned by the Criminal Code of Georgia, which stipulates violence;
- Based on the report of the journalist of “Mtavari TV” made from Senaki N14 polling station, an investigation was launched under Article 126 of the Criminal Code of Georgia;
In addition the mentioned, the police detained a total of 6 individuals in Zugdidi and Rustavi. The mentioned persons did not comply with lawful order of the police, owning to which they have been detained under the Code of Administrative Offences. The case of administrative violation in Zugdidi is being conducted under Article 166 (petty hooliganism) and Article 173 (resistance to the police), while with regards to the Rustavi case, the investigation is in progress under article 173.
The perpetrators of the above-mentioned facts turned out to be the representatives of both, the ruling party and various opposition parties as well.
At this stage, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, based on the received messages and media reports, responded to 18 facts of gathering of people or voter registration within 100 meter radius of the polling station, as well as the placement of agitation material within 25 meters, within the frames of administrative proceedings. In cases where the initial facts of breaching the distance established by law were revealed, the group of citizens have been warned by police. Regarding the mentioned facts respective protocols have been drawn up within the frames of administrative proceedings.
Relevant procedural and investigative activities are being carried out on the revealed incidents; the public will be additionally informed regarding the results of investigation.
We would like to appeal to all persons or organizations involved in the election process regardless of their political views, to report the violation and notify the police immediately in case of finding one. We also call on citizens, persons involved in the election process, to refrain from being engaged in any form of confrontation and artificial escalation of the situation, to observe the requirements of the law, comply with the rightful requests of the police and contribute to ensuring the peaceful conduct of the elections.
