Interior Ministry Vows Police Neutrality during Elections
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Friday, September 14
Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia claims that police will be “absolutely neutral” during the election period and on the election day on October 28, when the Georgian people will cast ballots for the country’s new president.
Gakharia made the statement on Thursday after signing a cooperation memorandum with the head of the Georgian Central Election Commission Tamar Zhvania.
“As you know, the main purpose of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and police is to politically neutralize police activity and, of course, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be completely neutral during this election.
“It is also very important for us to conduct the election process in a peaceful environment. This memorandum envisages our staff, police officers and the ministry representatives will improve their qualifications in order to successfully accomplish these tasks and challenges. I reiterate that the politically neutral police is the guarantee to hold elections in a calm environment, and we will do it successfully,” Gakharia said.
It is the third time when the Election Commission and police sign such a deal.
Last year the Election Commission won an international election price in Jordan for addressing election conflicts, the project which was based on the Interior Ministry and the Central Election Commission annual agreement.
Zhvania said that no cases of violence were reported on election day in 2017, which was the result of successful cooperation with the Interior Ministry.
“International reports also reflected the fact and public polls revealed that 93 percent of voters felt safe on election day,” Zhvania stated.
Georgian people will directly elect a president for the last time as in the following years the president will be elected by a special council of delegates from Tbilisi and regions.
