Ombudswoman points at alleged discrimination, pressure cases ahead of elections

Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has pointed at alleged discriminatory dismissals, alleged pressure on opposition party candidates, violence, political pressure on kindergarten and public school staff and alleged illegal processing of personal data and bribery of voters ahead of the October 2 municipal elections. 

 

Lomjaria says that 59 opposition candidates were allegedly pressured and intimidated to make them withdraw their candidacies.

 

“As a result, they, with a few exceptions, filed applications to withdraw their candidacies. According to our data, 52 of them were representatives of the For Georgia party,  six were representatives of the United National Movement and 1 was a representative of the Third Force – Strategy Builder,” said the ombudswoman. 

 

She says that 69 people have been dismissed or harassed at work allegedly for discriminatory, politically motivated views. 

 

“In a conversation with the Public Defender’s Office, most of these people explained the above by having friendly relations or being relatives of members of former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s party. Some named the posting/sharing of posts and comments in support of the party leader on social networks as a reason,” Lomjaria said. 

 

She says that her office has already sent materials of 44 cases of alleged pressure and illegal dismissal on political grounds to the law enforcement agencies for investigation. 

 

Lomjaria said that media reports relating to the illegal processing of personal data of the employees of kindergartens and public schools by the State Security Service are ‘noteworthy.’