Georgian CEC starts a check after anti-opposition banners in Tbilisi

The Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) has launched a check after banners with “bloody” images of opposition leaders appeared in Tbilisi. The “Georgian Dream” Party may be involved in unsanctioned advertising, oppositionists say. The Georgian authorities and the Tbilisi City Mayoralty claim they are not involved in the case.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that elections of mayors and members of city assemblies will be held in Georgia on October 2. On September 12, the opposition accused the ruling “Georgian Dream” Party of trying to disrupt an event at which oppositionists presented their candidates for positions in the administration of the city of Vani.

Banners depicting Georgian oppositionists appeared on billboards designed to advertise the vaccination campaign. The “Alma” Company notes it did not post those banners.

Among others, the banners depicts “bloody” images of former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakhariya, Nika Gvaramiya, the director of the “Mtavari Arkhi” TV Channel, and Nika Meliya, the chair of the “United National Movement” (UNM) Party, the “Rustavi-2” TV Channel reports.

On the air of the “Formula” TV Channel, politician Elena Khoshtariya said that the campaign material contains propaganda of violence against specific electoral subjects.

After the banners appeared, the NGO “International Community for Fair and Free Elections” (ISFED) filed a complaint with the CEC of Georgia.

Georgian oppositionists believe that the “Georgian Dream” Party stay behind the placement of the scandalous banners. The opponents of the authorities believe that the ruling party is trying to use polarization to mobilize its supporters, the “Formula” TV Channel reports.