According to recent reports, Georgian Dream officials are allegedly confiscating ID cards from opposition-supporting civil servants in the regions of Georgia. Ana Tsitlidze, Tamar Kordzaia and other members of the Unity – National Movement coalition raised this issue in their briefings. Mtavari TV conducted a journalistic inquiry into their allegations, which found evidence of this practice.
Ana Tsitlidze stated on October 15 that a group of officials from the police, city halls and government institutions were operating a scheme in Senaki and Zugdidi. She claimed that the group in Senaki is controlled by Giga Zashvili, head of the Samegrelo Regional Police, and in Zugdidi, by Dato Shengelia (the former commander of “Forest Brothers”, a guerrilla force consisting mainly ethnic Georgians in the occupied Republic of Abkhazia following the defeat of Georgian regular forces in the Abkhazian War).
Tsitlidze called the scheme an “intimidation” campaign and asked the Interior Ministry to investigate it, as well as the involvement of those she named who were allegedly involved. The MIA has not opened an investigation.
Tamar Kordzaia held a press event on October 17 in response to Tsitlidze’s allegations. She reported that GD supporters allegedly stole the passports and IDs from 31 people – 22 beneficiaries and nine employees of the Tsnori retirement home – and brought them to GD’s office to “intimidate” or bribe Georgian citizens. Kordzaia said that she was aware of the names of those involved in the case, but chose to not name them. She asked the Personal Data Protection Service (PDPS) to open an investigation immediately into the matter.
Mtavari television journalists investigated the allegations after hearing about these cases. They pretended to be representatives from the GD headquarters and asked the workers at Rustavi Cleaners Service if they had already handed their documents over to the representatives of company management. The workers replied that they either had or that they were warned to do so before the election. The journalists then called Ketevan Chkviladze who is one of the heads at the company and asked her to confirm she had taken documents from her workers. She confirmed this and even named those people.
Mtavari TV journalists decided to investigate these allegations after hearing about them. They pretended to be representatives from the GD headquarters and asked the workers at the Rustavi Cleaning Service if they had already given their documents to representatives of the management of the company. The workers replied that yes, or that they were warned to do so before the election. The journalists called Ketevan Chkviladze (one of the directors) and introduced themselves as GD representatives and asked her if she had taken workers’ documents. She confirmed that she did and even named those from whom she took the documents.
The Mayor of Rustavi Nino Latsabidze held a briefing about the investigation by Mtavari TV and denied all accusations. He said that the company management required the documents from these people to renew their labor contracts, and that this occurs every year.
On October 18, the Georgian public defender addressed the allegations and stressed that “obstructing implementation of the will during the elections is a criminal offence, including through deception, violence, or the use of official positions”. The Ombudsman called for the law enforcement authorities, in accordance with information made public, to launch an investigation. He also expressed his willingness, within his powers, to assist any person whose documents were confiscated.
It is unclear what purpose these documents may serve in the alleged attempts at rigging the elections. Analysts and opposition members cite the most obvious reason as an attempt to intimidate citizens who are opposed to the election.
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