Two Arrested as Georgian Authorities open 47 Election Fraud Cases
RFE/RL Interview:
Pres. Zurabishvili Calls For Western Pressure
To Keep Georgia On European Path
Tblisi, Oct. 31.– Georgian authorities say they have opened 47 cases of alleged election fraud and arrested two people accused of stuffing ballot boxes during the October 26 election as part of an investigation into accusations of widespread irregularities during the vote that prompted criticism from Georgia's Western partners that the Caucasus country was backsliding on democracy.
The Prosecutor's Office said the cases were opened in connection with "falsifying the election, influencing voters' will, violating ballot secrecy, obstructing of journalistic activities, violence and threats, damage and destruction of property."
The Interior Ministry said one of those arrested was Rovshan Iskandarov, 40, the deputy chairman of the city council of Marneuli, a city in southern Georgia where irregularities were reported at a polling station during the vote, prompting the suspension of the vote and the invalidation of all the ballots cast.
The other person's complete identity was not revealed, authorities naming him just as E.I., born in 1990.
During the vote, an RFE/RL correspondent reported an incident at a voting station in Marneuli ...
[ Full text ]