PHYSICAL VIOLANCE
Date: 2020-10-23
Period: 2020 Parliamentary elections - Pre-election period
District: Marneuli
Incident Category: Intimidation , Physical attack
2020-10-23
On September 29, a rally of the United National Movement was held outside Marneuli DEC. The party was protesting holding of first DEC meetings without informing UNM representatives. The rally was followed by verbal and physical confrontation with GD supporters. As a result of the confrontation, activists and a DEC employee were injured. Marneuli Assembly Chairperson Amiran Giorgadze was involved in the process. Mtavari Channel journalist Jeikhun Muhamedali asked a question to the assembly chairperson, which was followed by a verbal confrontation and the journalist was assaulted. Two journalists and two cameramen of Mtavari Channel and the public broadcaster were injured. Equipment of the TV companies was damaged. ISFED condemned the physical violence against journalists and urged law enforcement to investigate the incident of violence in Marneuli as soon as possible.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, investigation was launched into violence and illegal obstruction of journalistic reporting under articles 126 and 154 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
According to the CEC, all members were contacted using the phone numbers provided in their applications. Several members of the commission did not show up at the meeting, while some could not be reached. In addition, 26 members appointed by the UNM participated in respective PEC meetings. Further, the act of the DEC chairperson was made public by placing it in a visible area at the DEC premises, right after the first meetings were convened.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, four individuals have been arrested in connection to the incidents on September 27 in village Nakhiduri of Bolnisi Municipality and on September 29 in Marneuli. They are facing a prison time of up to 2 years.


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