Transparency International-Georgia, a local corruption monitor and key election observer slammed Interior Ministry‘s decision empowering U.S. sanctioned official Zviad Karzishvili (also known as “Khareba”) to oversee the formation of “territorial group” tasked to “detect and prevent violations during the preelection period and election day.” The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned “Khareba,” a government official responsible for the brutal crackdown against citizens during protests over the Foreign Agents Law.
“It’s alarming that the Minister for Interior has not only kept Z. Kharazishvili in his position, but has also appointed him to oversee the election-related process,” TI-Georgia stated, adding that “this means that “Khareba”, and the “task force” under his command, can take action when people gather near polling station, however peaceful these gatherings may be.”
Georgia calls on the Interior Ministry to “revise immediately his Ordinance, and to repeal the Special Task Department director’s involvement in “territorial Task Forces” and the Police Force’s power to take “preventive” measures against peacefully gathered voters near their polling stations.”
According to the decree issued by the Minister of Interior the “territorial group” will be formed to “detect” and “prevent” electoral violations within the precincts. The decree gives these groups the power to ban individuals from voting if they have been reported for disrupting electoral processes. The public is not trusting the Ministry and its forces. This has led to the public viewing this decree as controversial.
* 28/05/2024 — Special Tasks Department chief admits to slapping targeted protesters at anti-Agents Law Demonstrations
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