• Involvement of Azerbaijani cultural, scientific, and sports figures in the pre-election campaign in Kvemo Kartli

From October 15-21, the Kvemo Kartli region, where mostly ethnically Azerbaijani citizens of Georgia live, was visited by representatives from Azerbaijan’s sports and cultural sectors. Olympic champions, professors, writers, former members of the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and heads of various public organizations, together with local Georgian Dream representatives—including mayors and members of Parliament—visited villages to strengthen the Georgian Dream's support among our ethnically Azerbaijani fellow citizens. These activities constitute a violation of Article 45(4)(f) of the Election Code, which prohibits foreign citizens from participating in pre-election campaigning.

Dmanisi Municipality

On October 15, a pre-election meeting with Georgian Dream supporters in Dmanisi Municipality was attended [1] by Farid Mansurov, the 2004 Olympic champion in Athens and vice-rector for sports activities at the Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Culture and Sports (ADBTİA), and Kniaz Aslan, associate professor, writer, and head of the editorial and publishing department at Baku State University. Both are originally from Dmanisi.

Bolnisi Municipality

On October 17, Davit Sherazadishvili, mayor of Bolnisi Municipality, met [2] with residents of the villages Talaveri [3], Darbazi [4], and Kvemo Bolnisi (Kapanakhchi) as part of the Georgian Dream pre-election campaign, joined by a delegation from Azerbaijan. Members of the delegation included Mushfiq Madadoglu, author of about 30 books and founder and executive director of the publishing house 'ZiM.Az'; Kamran Ramazanli, chairman of the Public Union Soydaş (SOYDAŞ); and Aflatun Amashov, former member of the Parliament of Azerbaijan.

*Darbazi, Talaveri and Kvemo Bolnisi (Kapanakhchi) are the largest villages in Bolnisi Municipality

Gardabani Municipality

On October 21, MP Savalan Mirzoev, along with Vagif Aliyev, a member of the management and political council of the ruling party YAP, met [5] with residents of Gachiani village in Gardabani Municipality.

Vagif Aliyev previously served as First Deputy Minister of Sports, Youth, and Tourism from 1994 to 2003. From 2003 to 2011, he was the head of the executive authority in Sumgait, and he also led the capital management department of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR). He is now a member of the management and political council of YAP.

The meeting was also attended by professional kickboxer Zabiti Samedov. Samedov is originally from Gardabani and a citizen of Azerbaijan.