MPs Say Votes Recounting Process “Intentionally Delayed”

(Tbilisi, September 9, 2002, Civil Georgia) – Parliamentary commission, which investigates the violations during the June 2 local elections in Georgia negatively evaluate recounting process of the votes cast in Tbilisi locals.

At the meeting today the members of the investigative commission stated that during the month Central Election Commission (CEC) has recounted less than a half of votes. Jumber Lominadze, Chairman of the CEC could not tell the date when the recounting process is over.

MP Vakhtang Khmaladze, member of the Parliamentary commission told the reporters, “it seems that the recounting process is intentionally delayed.”

CEC had to initiate recounting on July 30, after the Tbilisi District Court ruled positively on Mikheil Saakashvili’s New National Movement’s appeal, which has been demanding this process due to numerous procedural violations during the elections.

Post election events – the endless trials and ballot recounting delayed the first session of the new City Council – Sakrebulo, which was scheduled for June 24.

According to the first results the Labors Party and the New National Movement obtained the most of the seats in Tbilisi City Council.