“The United National Movement members are confiscating citizens’ ID cards in Zugdidi villages and offering money in exchange for falsely accusing the Georgian Dream party of the confiscations,” Mamuka Tsotseria, the mayor of Zugdidi and head of the Georgian Dream party’s election headquarters, has alleged at the briefing.

According to Tsotseria, the UNM is also preparing former law enforcement officials who have been implicated in various crimes to stage provocations at polling stations on election day.

“The United National Movement is introducing their usual destructive actions into the electoral environment,” Tsotseria stated.

“Their representatives are going door-to-door in villages, confiscating ID cards, taking photos, and offering GEL 200 in exchange for citizens falsely claiming that Georgian Dream representatives took their IDs. Moreover, they have involved representatives of the former government’s special forces in their election campaign, who have specific tasks for election day,” he stated.

Tsotseria named specific individuals allegedly involved in the ID confiscation scheme.

“These are the UNM members: David Pipia, Mamuka Gogia, Gaga Jalaghonia, and David Vekua. These individuals are taking IDs from our citizens in villages in exchange for money and trying to blame our representatives for these actions.”

During the briefing, Tsotseria described incidents that occurred in the village of Rike, where the UNM members allegedly confiscated a citizen’s ID card in exchange for money.

“I will tell you about a specific example. Last night in the village of Rike, they approached an 80-year-old bereaved mother and offered her GEL 200 in exchange for her ID and a comment on camera that the Georgian Dream representatives had taken it from her. The same incident occurred in Kulishkari, Jikhashkari, and the IDP settlement on Baramia Street. Our opponents are solely focused on creating fake news to somehow spread false information that the pre-election period is fraught with violations. I call on international observer organizations to investigate the actions of opposition parties and document existing violations.”

“The UNM’s election campaign in Samegrelo is led by the former governor of the region, Zaza Gorozia, who was implicated in creating and using fake IDs in 2012. This individual has been caught in such dirty actions multiple times. The UNM is not interested in the elections or their results. They are preparing for the day after the elections. They have gathered around them members of the former government’s violent groups who have been implicated in various crimes. These individuals have specific tasks: to confiscate citizens’ IDs and create chaos and confrontations at polling stations on election day. They want to create a negative atmosphere,” Tsotseria continued.

Tsotseria then listed several former law enforcement officials allegedly involved in the opposition’s plans, including Ruslan Shamakhia, David Darsmelidze, Lasha Ekonia, Goga Levan, Gela Kakulia, Manuchari Pipia, Gocha Esartia, Kakha Kvaratskhelia, and David Melia. He described their past roles and alleged misconduct, claiming they are now working to disrupt the elections.

The mayor of Zugdidi concluded by stating that the United National Movement is the only force interested in introducing negativity into the pre-election environment.

“We are conducting our election campaign in a calm, free, and businesslike environment. We are focused on ensuring that the pre-election period and election day are held in a peaceful environment where citizens can express their will. The only force interested in bringing negativity into this environment is the collective representatives of the National Movement. I urge all political parties to act within the framework of the law. There will be the strictest, legally prescribed response to any misconduct. No one has the right to restrict our citizens’ freedom of choice. I also urge voters not to give their ID cards to anyone. If someone comes to you, take a photo, provide it to us, and there will be a strict response to every incident,” Tsotseria emphasized.