Regnum, Russia
Oct 6 2006

Georgia: International, not political struggle in Tsalka municipal
elections

Municipal elections in the Tsalka region of Georgia stirred a rather
tense situation. According to A-Info Agency report, buildings of the
local electoral commission and local government were cordoned by
police special forces.

Observers – ethnic Armenians – are forbidden to enter the electoral
commission building. Only MP Ayk Melitonyan succeeded in getting in.
Armenian population representatives said they feared that number of
votes for the ruling United National Movement Party would be
artificially increased, judging on the a priori falsified lists.

Candidate Nairi Dimaksyan nominated by opposition Industry Will Save
Georgia Party assured that the struggle was not between parties but
between Armenian population and the local authorities. Meanwhile,
United National Movement Party representative Ketiko Lagidze stated
she would do the utmost to minimize the number of Armenians at the
area’s sacrebulo (local governing body).