Men Fined for Election Campaign Flyer Row
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi
2006-09-25 19:02:21

Two men, Giorgi Otiashvili and Sarkis Sharoian, have been fined GEL 2 000
each after the Tbilisi City Court found them guilty on September 25 of
breaching political rights of the ruling National Movement party’s
activists.
Prosecutors claimed that two men have obstructed the ruling party activists
in exercising their political right and insulted them while disseminating
the party’s election campaign leaflets in Tbilisi.
But Otanashvili and Sharoian have denied allegation claiming that they have
just refused to accept the leaflet, citing that they already had one.
Opposition Republican and Conservative parties have denounced the court’s
ruling as politically-motivated.
Attorney Eka Beselia said that the two men may face imprisonment in case of
failure to pay the fine. The attorney also said that she will file an appeal
into the upper level court.

However, Tbilisi Chief Prosecutor Giorgi Gviniashvili said the case has
nothing to do with the politics.

"I want to assure you that if an offence of this kind takes place against
the representative of any opposition party, similar measures will be
undertaken against a perpetrator," Gviniashvili told reporters.