Interim elections on May 19, 2019
By Natalia Kochiashvili
Thursday, April 18
Part of Georgian citizens will vote on May 19, 2019, for Interim Elections of the parliamentary mandate to be held in Mtatsminda election district of Tbilisi. By-elections of the local assembly (Sakrebulo) will be held in 8 municipalities and extraordinary mayor elections – in 5. Most of the officials’ resignation was scandalous, some were involved in corruption schemes, others' decisions were explained by political pressure and some are facing legal charges. The only exception is Mtatsminda district – MP Salome Zourabichvili was elected as a president of the country.
The local assembly (Sakrebulo) elections will be held in Sagarejo, Akhmeta, Adigeni, Zestaponi, Chiatura, Tkibuli, Tskaltubo and Ozurgeti. In the eight Sakrebulos, one MP will be elected. The need has arisen due to certain reasons - MPs of Tkibuli, Tskaltubo, Ozurgeti, and Adigeni have passed away; Chiatura and Zestafoni lawmakers left the mandates on the basis of personal statements; Sakrebulo's decision suspended Akhmeta MP due to his absences on the sessions, and Sagarejo MP lost the mandate on the basis of the court verdict. The officers of the State Security Service detained him for taking a large amount of bribery.
Mayor's special elections will be held in Zugdidi, Marneuli, Chiatura, Khulo, and Zestaphoni. The mayors of these municipalities have been scandalous about a year after the municipal elections in 2017.
Former Mayor of Zugdidi Lasha Gogia and his deputy Gia Gulordava resigned from their positions 6 weeks before their preliminary detention on November 1, 2018. The officers of the State Security Service Anti-Corruption Agency detained them on charges of bribery of 21,500 $US in exchange for auction of Zugdidi Gulua Gardens and adjacent territories of the railway station. Tbilisi City Court is viewing their case – if a crime is approved, ex-officials will face 11 to 15 years of prison.
Temur Abazov, former mayor of Marneuli, was detained on June 13, 2018; Rustavi City Court is discussing his case. Abazov is accused of inhumane and degrading treatment of a citizen. Before his detention, the video was spread on social networks in which a citizen, which cursed at officials during Zaza Saralidze’s support rally, is forced to apologize and put his urine on his face. On September 6, 2018, the Prosecutor's Office blamed Temur Abazov for spreading the materials depicting the personal life of a citizen. On December 13, 2018, Abazov was released at the pre-trial court for 10 000 GEL bail. Two months later, on February 12, 2019, he applied to terminate the authority of Marneuli Municipality Sakrebulo.
The former mayor of Chiatura municipality Paata Nadiradze left the post on September 27, 2018. The reason for this is the confrontation with the members of the Sakrebulo deputies, the head of the police and other law enforcement agencies and their campaign against him. Before his resignation, there was a confrontation among officials in a restaurant. After the incident, the Ministry of Internal Affairs launched an investigation into violence against former Mayor.
Former Mayor of Khulo, Gocha Meladze resigned from the position on October 17, 2018. His deputy Lasha Bolkvadze left the position as well. Information about the Mayor's post of Khulo municipality was spread a few months before his resignation. Namely, after Tornike Rizhvadze replaced Zurab Pataridze on the post of Chairman of the Government of Adjara.
Zestaponi Mayor Kakhaber Makhatadze addressed Sakrebulo on February 12, 2019, announcing the termination of his authority. His deputy also resigned. Kakhaber Makhatadze was accused of corruption by his opponents, however, the official reason for his resignation remains unknown.
The By-elections of the Parliament of Georgia will be held in Tbilisi Mtatsminda election district on May 19. The district lawmaker of 2016 Parliament, Salome Zourabichvili won the presidential election - Parliament suspended the MP's authority on December 21. As stated by ‘Transparency International Georgia’s’ program manager, Levan Natroshvili, Mtatsminda is among the electoral districts where the competition will be especially high in upcoming elections. According to his assessment, the midterm elections of May 19 are exceptionally resonant not only in the political context but in the number of electoral districts and voters.
The political parties and blocs have already presented their candidates. In Mtatsminda district, which seems to be the most competing one, the candidate from the ruling party “Georgian Dream” is Doctor Lado Kakhadze. In opposition, parties “Movement for Liberty - European Georgia” and “Free Democrats” have created the political bloc – their candidate in Mtatsminda district is a former member of ruling faction and a leader of “Free Democrats,” Shalva Shavgulidze. “United National Movement” has expressed support to this bloc. In this district, there will be running only one independent candidate – young politician and historian Grigol Gegelia, who has often criticized “Georgian Dream” and “United National Movement” and more broadly the policies adopted by the Georgian political elites in general. Herman Sabo will be representing political party “Girchi” in this district.
In Zugdidi, the candidate from 'United National Movement' is a member of the party and Georgia’s ex-president’s, Saakashvili’s wife Sandra Roelofs. They also presented their candidate in Marneuli district, Agil Mustafaev, changing their mind about supporting the candidate of 'European Georgia,' Ahmed Imamkuliev. In Zugdidi, the ruling party has introduced the candidacy of Giorgi Shengelia, who is the Deputy Mayor of the city. In Tchiatura, three opposition parties – 'European Georgia,' 'Free Democrats' and 'Movement of building' have presented the independent candidate, Davit Tchumburidze, who will be competing against 'Georgian Dream’s' candidate Givi Modebadze. The ruling party presented their candidate in Sagarejo – economist Zurab Shindelashvili, and in Zestaponi – Giorgi Goglichidze.
The elections will be held in 410 polling stations throughout the country and more than 400,000 voters are registered for the polls.
