Ombudswoman: public servants linked with ex-PM Gakharia’s party suppressed

Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria, whose office is monitoring the human rights violations during the pre-election period, says that 62 employees were subjected to various forms of pressure ahead of the October 2 municipal elections. 

 

“Most of them, in a conversation with the representatives of the Public Defender, confirmed pressure and dismissal, and explained the above by kinship, friendship or good relations with members of the party of former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia,” said Lomjaria. 

 

She stated that the individuals were fired from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, municipal services, non-commercial legal entities as well as legal entities under public law established by various municipalities, and other public institutions.

 

She has called on heads of central and local self-government bodies and other public institutions not to dismiss or instruct the dismissal of employees due to their political views.

 

Lomjaria urged the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia  to timely investigate the alleged persecution.  

 

Gakharia left the post and the Georgian Dream party in February 2021 after the controversies with the party leadership. 

 

Later, in May, he formed the For Georgia political party and presented candidates for the municipal elections.