14 April 2004, 13:46
Georgian Central Election Commission member forced out of Adjaria
Representative of Georgia's Central Election Commission Zaza Gorozia had to leave Adjaria (a Georgian autonomy) on the night of April 13-14.
"About 400 supporters of Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze forced me out of the hotel in Kobuleti, took the documents for the second round of parliamentary elections due in two districts of Adjaria on April 18, and bundled me off the town," Mr Gorozia said to reporters on Wednesday, April 14.
Earlier, the Kabuleti administration refused to provide offices for the Georgian Central Election Commission's representatives. So the latter had to work in a hotel room.
The situation in another Adjarian district, Khuloisky, where the second round of parliamentary elections is due to take place, remains complicated. Here a representative of the Central Election Commission, who was in charge of organizing the elections, was not provided with polling stations. He has to stay in a private house of a local resident.
According to the Georgian Central Election Commission, Chairman of the Commission Zurab Chiaberashvili is leaving for Adjaria to normalize the situation today.
According to Mr Chiaberashvili, he will take all the necessary measures to prevent the disruption of the parliamentary elections.
The Central Election Commission has decided to hold the second round of the Georgian parliamentary elections in the Khuloisky and Kobuleti districts of Adjaria on April 18 since serious violations were registered in these districts during the parliamentary elections held on March 28.
Author: Marina Kvaratskhelia Source: RIA Novosti
