The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia released an information on the conduction of municipal elections.

“The MIA ensures protection of public order and safety throughout the whole country, in order to enable all citizens to make their choice in a free and safe environment. As we already informed the society, with the purpose of ensuring safe election environment the mobile police groups have been established who are protecting public order throughout the day. Besides, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is actively cooperating with international observatory missions and local nongovernmental organizations, as well as with the Office of Public Defender, for the purpose of which, the Ministry has allocated relevant points of contact.

We would also like to inform the society about the incidents recorded for this stage in relation to the October 2, 2021 Municipal elections and the responses of the Ministry of Internal Affairs thereto.

Zugdidi Police has launched an investigation under the Paragraph 1 of Article 154 of the Criminal Code of Georgia on the fact of unlawful interference with the journalist’s professional activities at the 84th polling station in Zugdidi.

On the fact of confrontation on the territory adjacent to 48th polling station in village Kiziladjlo in Marneuli Municipality, Kvemo Kartli Police has launched an investigation under the Paragraph 1 of Article 1621 that envisages violence on the territory adjacent to the polling station.

As for the incident at the 64th polling station in Batumi, Batumi Police has studied the case, and to this end, representatives of media have been interviewed, their personal belongings have been returned and they continue their professional activities.

Zugdidi Police has launched an investigation under the Paragraph 1 of Article 154 of the Criminal Code of Georgia on the fact of unlawful interference with the journalist’s professional activities at the 84th polling station in Zugdidi.

On the fact of confrontation on the territory adjacent to 48th polling station in village Kiziladjlo in Marneuli Municipality, Kvemo Kartli Police has launched an investigation under the Paragraph 1 of Article 1621 that envisages violence on the territory adjacent to the polling station.

As for the incident at the 64th polling station in Batumi, Batumi Police has studied the case, and to this end, representatives of media have been interviewed, their personal belongings have been returned and they continue their professional activities.

In addition, based on the received reports and information spread by media sources, the Ministry of Internal Affairs within the scope of administrative proceedings responded up the 30 cases of the gathering people within 100 meter-perimeter from the polling station, registering the voters, also placing the agitation materials at the distance of 25 meters from the polling station. In cases where, violation of the distance envisaged by law, was established for the first time, police gave the warning to the gathered individuals. Regarding these cases, within the administrative proceedings, relevant reports were made.

Apart from this, in the adjacent territory of 13th polling station in Telavi Municipality one of the citizen was fined with 2000 GEL by Police, under the Paragraph 2 of Article 79 of the Elections Code of Georgia, on the fact of registering the voters within the 20 meters of the polling station.

We would like to call on all individuals or organizations involved in the election process, regardless of their political affiliations, to observe the requirements of the law, follow the rightful requests of police and contribute to the peaceful and safe conduction of elections”, - reads the statement.