CEC Starts Votes Recounting

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, July 30, 2002) – Today Central Election Commission is to start recounting of votes cast during Tbilisi city council – Sakrebulo election on June 2. It is for the first time in the Georgian elections’ history when the votes are recounted.

The CEC set the date of recounting after the pressure from the Parliamentary special Commission, which investigates the violations that occurred during the local elections.

In June Tbilisi district court ruled positively on New National Movement’s appeal to recount the votes in Tbilisi because of the numerous procedural violations at the locals.

In case the 20% of votes are annulled after the recounting the new local elections will be held in Tbilisi.

The Labor Party of Georgia and Mikheil Saakashvili’s New National Movement obtained the most of the seats in Tbilisi Sakrebulo after the June 2 elections.