There have been widespread allegations of voter intimidation, several of which could be substantiated by international observers, according to the OSCE/ODIHR’s second interim pre-election report.
The report, which was posted on OSCE website on May 15, covers the period between April 26 and May 9.
The report says that OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission has received “numerous allegations” of violations from opposition parties and local observer organizations, which include widespread intimidation, among others of candidates, party activists and state employees, especially teachers.
“Among numerous specific allegations of intimidation, several have been substantiated by the OSCE/ODIHR EOM [election observation mission],” the report notes. “For example, a teacher in Kakheti, who had switched her support from the UNM [the ruling party United National Movement] to the Republican Party, was warned by the school director that she would be dismissed if she did not remain with the UNM.”
The report also notes that there also has been “widespread allegations” that people with relatives in pre-trial detention centers were told that they could secure their release if they collected pledges of votes for the ruling party.
“A credible witness told the OSCE/ODIHR EOM how a UNM candidate in Tbilisi had told a woman that her arrested son would be released if she could deliver several hundred signed pledges to vote for the UNM,” the report reads.
Previous interim pre-election report, covering the period between April 10 and April 25, noted “considerably fewer occurrences of intimidation,” than before the January 5 presidential elections.
The report also notes about allegations involving abuse of administrative resources. Under a government program, fuel vouchers are distributed in rural areas for agricultural support.
“At times, the distribution of the vouchers has been combined with campaign activities for the UNM, blurring the distinction between state activities and campaigning,” the report reads.
The report also says that election commissions and courts “have not given due consideration to complaints and appeals, particularly those against UNM and public officials.”
Election campaign by the political parties, the report says, gained momentum during the reporting period. “The main form of activity has been relatively small-scale events, rather than large-scale rallies,” it says.
According to the report, although there has also been some issue-based campaigning by opposition parties, “campaigning of some opposition parties has been very negative in tone, highlighting mistrust in the fairness of the electoral process, and focusing on alleged violations and plans by the authorities to manipulate the elections.”
The overall election campaign, according to the report, has been influenced and partly overshadowed by tensions with Russia. Number of opposition parties accused the authorities of exploiting tensions for their own electoral gain.
Media Monitoring
The OSCE/ODIHR long-term observation mission is conducting quantitative and qualitative media monitoring of five TV stations – the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB), Rustavi 2, Mze TV, Kavkasia TV and Adjara TV – and of four newspapers – Rezonansi, 24 Saati, Alia and Kviris Palitra.
The report says that the preliminary media-monitoring results indicate a lack of balance in the prime-time news coverage on most monitored TV stations. “Only public TV has so far offered its viewers a more balanced picture of the campaign,” it says.
Between 10 April and 7 May, public TV devoted similar proportions of its political and election news coverage to the nine-party opposition bloc – 20% and ruling party – 16%, according to the report. It said that while 65% the ruling party coverage was positive, 31% neutral in tone and 4% negative, 22% of the nine-party bloc’s coverage was assessed as positive and 78% as neutral.
Rustavi 2 TV and Mze TV lifted boycott on covering the nine-party bloc’s campaign on April 28, but the bloc’s coverage was much less than those of the authorities and the ruling party, according to the report.
Kavkasia TV, which broadcasts only in Tbilisi, continued to served as a platform for the opposition. “It has allocated the bulk of its campaign coverage to the United Opposition and strongly criticized the UNM,” the report says.