Billboards of Alliance of Patriots of Georgia taken down in Adjara region
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, August 31
The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy says that they plan to address the Central Election Commission to protest the unlawfulness of the billboard put in Batumi by Alliance of Patriots of Georgia.
The organization is protesting a billboard on the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara with the outline of the map of Georgia, from which Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Adjara are separated in red. The billboard also reads: "Defend Adjara! Defend your share of Georgia!” At the same time, arrows aimed at Adjara from Turkey were used to demonstrate the origin of the 'threat.'
One of the leaders of Georgian Dream, Mamuka Mdianradze, called the billboard 'an order from Russia,' his position was reported by the press services of the party.
“It is inconceivable, in any case, to give a different assessment of what they put up on the banner - this is a Russian provocation and a Russian order, which, unfortunately, they are fulfilling,” Mdinaradze said.
This is not the first time from this opposition party to talk about the Adjara region in this way. Based on much misinformation, the Alliance of Patriots has been saying that "Turkey is also an occupier.” On August 29, one of the leaders of the party, Irma Inashvili, also said that "Turkey is carrying out targeted economic and ideological expansion in Adjara," and that the State Security Services are not responding to these processes.
The Batumi Municipal Inspection will send the violation protocols regarding the Patriots Alliance banners to the court.
Irma Inashvili, the leader of the Patriots’ Alliance, responded to the banners placed on her party's billboards in Adjara, saying that there was an internal or external provocation and that the design of the pre-election poster was different from what the party wanted to print. Inashvili blames Mikheil Saakashvili and Giga Bokeria for the incident and says that they did 'cheap PR' with the controversial banner of the Patriots’ Alliance.
According to Irma Inashvili, in the design of the party banner, which was to be printed by their order, Adjara was separated as a danger zone and it had arrows coming from Turkey, although the red color was not intended.
There were two unauthorized banners placed in two places in the region. The Batumi Municipal Inspection had a legal response to an advertising banner placed by one of the political parties. The banners were removed according to the norms provided by the law. A report on the violation has been drawn up in this regard, and this will be forwarded to the Batumi City Court for consideration.
