TBILISI (Armenpress)–Leaders of the Virk political party are planning to urge the population of Southern Georgia to not take part in upcoming local government elections scheduled for June 2–saying the election process is flawed and undemocratic.
During a telephone interview Friday from Akhalkalak–Virk party vice-president Davit Rstakyan told Prime News that taking part in the elections would be futile since the laws on local elections and the country’s election codes are undemocratic.
Rstakyan emphasized that provision in the election code–which stipulates that local government officials are not elected by voters–but rather are appointed by regional representatives was seen as the contentious part of the process.
The Virk leader explained that his party believes that local government and regional government officials must be elected by the people.
Whether the party will announce a "passive boycott" of the elections will be determined by the pre-election climate in Akhalkalak and Ninotsminda regions–adding that the situation in those regions is extremely complicated given the recent activation of Georgian intelligence in the region.
Rstakyan asserted that a group of candidates for local government have "sold out" to the "Georgian intelligence."
The party leader announced that Virk will not take part in the elections–by its members may use discretion in putting forth their candidacy.