Tbilisi, Georgia: Transparency International Georgia published today the third interim report on the use of administrative resources for election campaign. The report covers the period of time between 5 May and 24 May 2010 and focuses on three types of administrative resources: coercive,logistical and human. The information included in the report has been supplied by Transparency International Georgia’s regional coordinators and other regional contacts, journalists, civil society representatives, public officials and party activists. Every single case has been verified with several sources. Involvement of public officials and representatives of the power-wielding agencies in the election campaign was particularly frequent during the reporting period. Public officials engaged in agitation while performing their official duties, which is prohibited by the Electoral Code. Representatives of the power-wielding agencies, meanwhile, are banned from participating in an election campaign altogether. The representatives of the Ozurgeti municipality administration in the Gurianta, Meria and Ozurgeti territorial units are using their offices as campaign headquarters. They have not tried to conceal the fact that the United National Movement’s campaign materials and supporter lists are displayed in their offices. "I am a government representative and there is no way I could have the opposition’s campaign posters in [the office]?!" Grigol Chkhaidze, the municipality administration representative in the Ozurgeti village, said. Madlena Andghuladze, who is the head of a kindergarten in the same village, found a simple way to explain the fact that only the ruling party’s posters were displayed on the exterior of the kindergarten building: "The National Movement has helped the kindergarten in every possible way and they are still supplying us with various products." The kindergarten head also credited the ruling party with the ongoing renovation of her office and the building’s lobby. "Indeed, we are all working together, including the National Movement and the village administration," she said. Similar violations were recorded in Gori and the villages of Gori District, the Zemo Alvani village of Akhmeta District, Qvareli, Ozurgeti and Gurjaani. Instances of voter bribing were recorded in Mestia, the Kvemo Omalo village of Qvareli District,several villages of Ozurgeti District and the Akhalkalaki village of Kaspi District. In Kharagauli, several instances of pressure on the Alliance for Georgia bloc’s representatives were recorded. The majoritarian candidate in the Vakhani village of Kharagauli District was sacked by the municipality administration representative in the village. The acting director of a high school in the Atsquri village of Akhmeta District exerted pressure on a teacher of the school, who had been appointed by Alliance for Georgia as a precinct electoral commission member. Future Activities Transparency International Georgia continues to monitor the election campaign and will publish another interim report before the elections. After the elections, the organization will publish the final report containing all irregularities and problems recorded during the monitoring process and offering recommendations for their prevention in the future. Contact persons: Nina Khatiskatsi, Program Director – 877 92 0600 Tamuna Karosanidze, coordinator of the Media Center – 877 7191 07