Opposition Seeks Cancellation of Adjara Election Results

Security forces leave downtown Tbilisi,  as opposition takes a break

Opposition demanded on November 5 to cancel highly suspicious election results in Adjara Autonomous Republic and Kvemo Kartli, both the government-dominated provinces, where international, as well as local observers reported mass irregularities and ballot fraud on November 2 parliamentary elections. 
The deadline for submitting the election results from Adjara Autonomous Republic to the Central Election Commission expires at 6 pm on November 6. Adjara’s up to 280,000 votes would shape the final results of the elections.

“I set an ultimatum to the Central Election Commission [CEC] and the authorities not to recognize election results in Kvemo Kartli and Adjara, as most irregularities, violations and ballot fraud were reported from these regions,” Mikheil Saakashvili said, while addressing up to 6 thousand protesters gathered in front of the CEC, late on November 5 – the second day of protests against the manipulation of election results.

The opposition fears that the manipulated results of elections in Adjara and Kvemo Kartli region will significantly reduce the support rates of the opposition parties, while adding to the tally of the Revival Union and the alliance For New Georgia (FNG), accordingly.  

Preliminary observations of the international monitors says, inflated turnout rates and suspiciously unrealistic rates of support to the Revival union cast serious doubts on fairness of the elections there.

The report of the influential tycoon and the financial backer of the FNG Badri Patarkatsishvili, visiting Adjara triggered the speculations that pro-presidential alliance and the Revival Union are engaged in horse-trading over Adjara vote.

Expecting the decision on Adjara votes, Mikheil Saakashvili called on his supporters to suspend the rallies for November 6 and gather in front of the CEC at 3:00 pm on November 7. Following the announcement, the riot police unites deployed in the downtown Tbilisi started to withdraw.

With more than two-third of votes counted, the CEC announced today that the pro-presidential bloc For New Georgia keeps narrow lead in the polls with 24,7% of the votes, and National Movement coming second with 22%.

The National Movement, as well as the Burjanadze-Democrats accuses the authorities of manipulating the election results. The accusations are based on results of the parallel vote tabulation (PVT) by the election watchdog International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy.  According to the PVT the National Movement finished the elections as a front-runner with 26,6% of the ballots cast.

The opposition also protests delay in publishing the tally. This concern is shared by the United States Ambassador, who called on November 5 for an honest and timely vote tabulation.