David Rstakyan: Javakhk witnessed appointment of MPs but not election

PanARMENIAN.Net - Javakhk witnessed appointment of MPs but not election, said David Rstakyan, head of unauthorized Virk party.

“First, the election itself was a grave violation of the Georgian Constitution: six Georgian villages elected one deputy each; at that Akhalkalaki and Armenian villages were also allowed to elect one deputy each. Second, Tbilisi tries its best to prevent Armenians from participating in the elections: threats, blackmail, sometimes bribery,” he said.

Candidates from President Mikhail Saakashvili's party dominated the May 31 local elections in Georgia. Nationwide, Saakashvili's party was getting majority of the vote. Opposition failed almost in all constituencies.

“I should note that the turnout in Javakhk was the lowest. However, Georgian CEC reported a 75% turnout in Ninotsminda, two thirds of the population of which is in Russia or Ukraine,” Rstakyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. “Only 10-12 thousand out of 41 thousand residents of Akhalkalaki cast ballot.”

Rstakyan also emphasized that international observers refrained from making comments and their reports will most likely contain standard phrases about “violations which did not affect the outcomes of the election.”