Georgia’s ruling party accused of ID confiscation ahead of elections

The leader of Unity – National Movement opposition coalition, Tamar Kordzaia, on Thursday accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of attempting to manipulate the upcoming, October 26 general elections through intimidation and coercion.

Speaking in Tsnori, eastern Georgia, Kordzaia alleged that 22 elderly residents and nine staff members at a local shelter had their identity documents confiscated and taken to the GD office, just nine days before the election.

Kordzaia claimed the ruling party was resorting to “desperate measures” as it faces potential defeat. “Georgian Dream knows that it will lose these elections and cannot adapt to the loss, that is why it has decided to fully engage the government machine in order to intimidate or bribe the citizens of Georgia,” she claimed.

The MP further stressed the alleged confiscation of passports and ID cards from 31 people represented a “new low”, even for what she described as a “criminal government.” She urged the personal data protection inspector to launch an immediate investigation and vowed that her party would seek legal accountability for those involved in the alleged violations.

The ruling party have condemned such claims as “fake”.