WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020 The Messenger P3

“Impartial, Informative, Insightful” GEL 3.00 The #141 (4698) MessengerWEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020 WWW.MESSENGER.COM.GE Opinion & Analysis Bribery, pressure and church

On floods in the interference: ISFED pre-election regions, increased monitoring report crime and elections

FULL STORY ON Page 2 Economics

Signs of possible corruption in City Hall tenders

Monitoring is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) FULL STORY ON Page 3 and the European Union.

BY NATALIA KOCHIASHVILI Interference in the pre-election cam- ery of voters in Tsageri, Ambrolauri and ties - Lelo for and the United paign of the Church; Dismissal on politi- Oni on behalf of the incumbent National Movement, which carried out he International Society for Fair Elec- cal grounds; Voter bribery; Use of Admin- majoritarian MP Gocha Enukidze, who social assistance rallies, namely: Lelo for Ttions and Democracy (ISFED) has istrative Resources - such cases were ad- was officially nominated as a Georgia helped the nursing home in the published the II Interim Report on the Pre- dressed in the report. majoritarian candidate of the Georgian village of Gldani, and the head of the Election Monitoring of the 2020 Parlia- Report reads that 8 cases of alleged Dream in the respective constituency. Khelvachauri municipal organization of mentary Elections. The survey was con- voter bribery were revealed during the Signs of alleged voter bribery were also United National Movement handed over ducted from July 5th to August 2nd, 2020. pre-election period. Including alleged brib- revealed in the efforts of opposition par- food products to 2 families. According to ISFED five cases of dis- missal on political grounds were identi- fied in 5 municipalities during the pre- election period. It should be noted that in some municipalities, the dismissal of the mayor’s representatives in the adminis- trative units were observed, which is prob- ably related to the goal of conducting the pre-election campaign more effectively and involving the mayor’s representatives in this process. Fair election observers detected similar cases in Zugdidi, Martvili, Tkibuli, Chiatura, and Tbilisi municipalities. Besides that, 2 cases of political dis- crimination were allegedly identified dur- ing the pre-election period. Cases were revealed in Khelvachauri and Khashuri. One of the families in Khashuri links the refusal of assistance from the municipal- ity to political discrimination because the family is not a supporter of the ruling party. Also in Khelvachauri, the mayor’s representative in the village of Erge re- fused to provide social assistance to an elderly citizen during a pandemic and ad- dressed them to the United National Movement for help, as the family is con- sidered a supporter of that party. Study also found out that high-rank- ing clerics have been involved in the

8 cases of alleged voter bribery were revealed during the pre-election period. CONTINUED ON Page 2 P2 Opinion & Analysis The Messenger WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020 On floods in the regions, increased crime and elections

ter Giorgi Gakharia on July 27th. But even if the democratic This conversation was followed standards of the elections are by different comments from the met, the opposition will need to Georgian government and the make great efforts to win. First, opposition. According to officials, the opposition political spectrum the conversation was a demon- that is presented to the voters is stration of the US’s support for becoming very wide. The 1% Georgia and that there were no threshold in 2020 parliamentary problems with its strategic part- elections gives many small and ner, while opposition officials new parties a chance to get into said Pompeo’s goal was to warn the Parliament. It also increases the Georgian authorities about the temptation of major political the upcoming elections. The forces to include satellite parties need for free and fair elections in Parliament. 68 parties that in Georgia was stressed. do not have representation in the The same statement was Parliament have already applied made by US Ambassador to to the election administration Georgia Kelly Degnan. As he with a request to register as an told reporters, “now it is impor- election subject. Such a plethora tant that the election law is en- of parties will clearly confuse the forced in practice during the elec- electorate. tions, so that voters can go to the Secondly, the more or less BY MALKHAZ MATSABERIDZE The public is concerned about to stay in polls freely, without intimidation well-known opposition parties, increased crime. According to power,” said Levan Bezhashvili, or other obstacles, and have con- which are gathered in the coali- atural disasters caused by official statistics, up to 23,000 one of the leaders of the United fidence in the results that will tion Strength is in Unity’ can no Nbad weather in the regions crimes have been committed in National Movement. be determined.” longer reach an agreement on of Georgia, increased crime in the last five months, of which Such accusations by the op- Opposition groups called for joint candidates in other cities the country and the upcoming only 7,000 have been solved. Of position are especially important the beleaguered PM to resign, and regions of Georgia. This, of parliamentary elections were the particular interest are the two in the run-up to the elections, saying that sanctions would not course, benefits the Georgian three main topics that the Geor- criminal cases that led to the when they say the government be imposed on Western parties Dream. Talk about the final con- gian media has been actively dis- deaths of 19-year-old Giorgi will continue to mobilize the for violating democratic stan- figuration of the opposition will cussing in recent days. Shakarashvili and 23-year-old criminal world to influence vot- dards. 15% of the US aid to Geor- be possible in a few days, when As a result of the overflow of Tamar Bachaliashvili. Indepen- ers. The opposition in general gia has already been officially the legal deadlines for registra- mountain rivers, the mountain- dent journalists are trying to suspects that the government frozen, and the condition for its tion expire. ous part of Racha, one of the cor- find out about these cases. Many will try to rig the elections and receipt will be the steps towards (Translated by ners of western Georgia, found distrust the investigation and considers the support of Western democracy in Georgia. Mariam Mchedlidze) itself in a particularly difficult believe that it is “protecting from friends as one of the situation. The floodwaters swept the perpetrators.” ways to prevent this. away sections of the road, The opposition sees the reason It was with their bridges, villages were cut off and for the increase in crime and help that the electoral people were evacuated by heli- especially the lack of investiga- system was changed copters. The developments in tion of high-profile cases in the and the number of gov- Mountain Racha are also inter- government. According to them, ernment representa- esting in that the government the police became an instrument tives in the Parliament has issued a permit to build a of political tasks, the police were was reduced to 30. cascade of hydropower plants on demoralized - because of the ‘so- Our country’s strate- the Rio River in the region. The cial contract’ concluded by the gic partners also insist local population opposes the start government with the on holding the upcom- of construction, which will be criminal.”The criminal world is ing parliamentary elec- followed by flooding of a large intertwined with the state struc- tions in accordance with area. What happened to them tures, it is most clearly ex- democratic standards. will be another argument pressed during the elections, US Secretary of State against the construction of hy- when criminal authorities, in Mike Pompeo spoke to dropower plants. fact, campaign and help the Georgian Prime Minis-

the souls of their ancestors. by the Primakov Georgian-Rus- Bribery, pressure and church Marneuli and Hujab bishop is sian Community Center of the the high hierarchy of the church Russian Foreign Ministry and his words are perceived by (headed by Dimitri interference: ISFED the population as the position of Lortkipanidze) and the leader of the church. the Georgian Idea Party, Levan Bishop said that Dargali ‘re- Chachua. The party Georgian pre-election monitoring report incarnated Nariman Idea has applied for registration Narimanov, the bloody Soviet with the CEC for the 2020 par- CONTINUED FROM Page 1 human interests - Georgian cult, the ruiner of our indepen- liamentary elections and is cur- Dream majoritarian candidate, dence and statehood, as well as rently in the process of registra- election campaign, particularly Zaur Dargali from entering the territorial integrity’. It is note- tion. “According to media re- Weather in Marneuli. On July 26 Parliament. In the form of an worthy that the rally demand- ports, the anti-Western party Marneuli and Hujabi Bishop appeal to the parish, he added ing the monument to be taken Georgian Marchwas also present Wednesday, August 5 George Jamdelian, said on Sun- that those who stand by Dargali down was held on July 16, where at the rally, but the party lead- day service that he would pre- will be held accountable and all the Bishop delivered a speech. ers deny the information,” stated vent the traitor of national and of them will have to answer for The meeting was also attended the organization’s study. Day Partly Cloudy High: 29°C published by Night Clear Nino Metreveli The Messenger welcomes your therefore, the opinions Commercial Director contributions. If you are expressed in some articles do Low: 19°C The Messenger 43, Chovelidze st., Tbilisi, interested in submitting an not necessarily coincide with article or news item please those of the newspaper. We Thursday, August 6 0108, Georgia Founded by Prof. Mariam Mchedlidze contact. take no responsibility for any Editor-in-Chief All contributions should be claims made in advertisments. Day Clear Zaza Gachechiladze Tamar Gachechiladze submitted by e-mail. High: 30°C Publisher The Messenger Georgia’s The Messenger preserves the Night Clear Mob.:+995 599 565621; +995 577 760000 Khatuna Gogichaishvili English language daily is an style of a source written in E-mail:[email protected] Layout Designer, Photographer independent newspaper, and, English where possible. Low: 19°C http://www.messenger.com.ge/ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020 The Messenger Economics P3 Exchange Rates: US Dollar - 3.0729; Euro - 3.6190; GBP - 4.0086; 100 Russian Ruble - 4.1656; Swiss Franc - 3.3569 Signs of possible corruption in City Hall tenders Due to the conditions, the par- pany GT Group donated 160,000 ticipation of other companies in to Georgian Dream and Salome the tender was practically ex- Zurabishvili in 2016-2018. cluded. It is noteworthy that the City When announcing the tender Hall is actively cooperating with for the second time, Tbilisi City this company, the City Hall pur- Hall removed certain conditions, chased garbage bins worth 2.8 but added 10 years of experience million from this company, in official dealerships in Georgia, which were located on the newly which was also satisfied only by rehabilitated Chavchavadze Av- GT Group. enue. At this time, one of the com- In the last 5 years, the com- panies wishing to participate in pany has signed tenders worth the tender has appealed the 5 million with the Tbilisi City terms to the Disputes Board and Hall, including the introduction is awaiting a decision. The of ISUZU green buses by the founder and director of the com- same company.

“How Tbilisi City Hall arranged the 30-million tender to a specific firm?”

BY NATALIA KOCHIASHVILI buses in April, but later canceled it due to a pandemic and re-an- bilisi City Hall has ar- nounced it on July 15. Accord- Tranged a tender for the pur- ing to the investigation, in both chase of minibuses, the cost of cases, Tbilisi City Hall adjusted which is 30 million, to one spe- the terms of the tender to one cific company, GT Group. This specific company. became known from the investi- At the first announcement of gation prepared by the investi- the tender, the conditions were gative journalist Giorgi designed in such a way that the Mgeladze for Radio Liberty. requirements were met only by The journalistic investigation describes how Tbilisi City Hall arranged a $ 30 million Tbilisi City Hall initially an- Ford minibuses, the dealer of tender to a specific company and how potential suppliers justify the City Hall’s dis- nounced a tender for 300 mini- which is GT Group in Georgia. criminatory approach. CLASSIFIED Newly renovated building for sale or rent in the heart of Tbilisi

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