Georgia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) revoked the registration of the Industrialist-Our Homeland bloc for the upcoming October 8 parliamentary elections, according to an announcement published on the CEC’s website. According to CEC Head Tamar Zhvania, the bloc missed the deadline for submitting its list of parliamentary candidates. The leadership of the Industrialists slammed the CEC’s decision, saying it was an unfounded decision aimed at marginalizing the party. The party’s leaders said they have already appealed to Tbilisi’s City Court.
The party’s leader, Gogi Topadze, said certain forces in the election committee are actively trying to force opposition parties out the race for the new parliament.
According to Zurab Tkemaladze, a member of the Industrialist Party, the CEC’s decision is in direct violation of the law.
“The CEC’s justification for barring us was that we did not submit our candidate list on time is an outright lie. Their decision seems to be in the best interests of the ruling (Georgian Dream) party, as we have MP candidates who will obviously win” Tkemaladze said.
Full Article: Georgia’s Election Commission Bans Anti-Western Party From Elections – Georgia Today on the Web.