Defense minister ready to answer questions about alleged election fraud

Tina Khidasheli. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli is prepared to cooperate with the investigation into allegations of fraud in the by-election in Sagarejo last October, which was won by her fellow party member.

“Anyone who wishes to is welcome to question me, but I am finished with publicly commenting on this topic,” she said Tuesday at the exercise center in Krtsanisi.

Khidasheli, who is a member of the Republican Party, a member of the Georgian Dream coalition, underlined that she has presented all the necessary documents related to the case.

“I think I’ve said enough. All documents are in order and anyone can read it,” she added.

There is no point in talking about it anymore, she continued. But if necessary, she will provide additional documents.

“This issue is thoughtless to me and so I am ready to talk about it everywhere and in any format, but I am done publicly speaking about it.”

On February 25, the Prosecutor General’s Office launched an investigation into the by-election in Sagarejo, in eastern Georgia, after an appeal by Transparency International Georgia.

The investigation is launched under article 332 of the Ciminal Code about abusing official power, which may be punished with up to three years in jail and three years ban on holding an official position.

An MP from the Industrialists Party, which is member of the ruling Georgian Dream coalition, accused Khidasheli of election fraud.

The by-election in Sagarejo was held in October 31, 2015. The Georgian Dream coalition’s candidate was Tamar Khidasheli from the Republican Party, who won narrowly against the Alliance of Patriots candidate Irma Inashvili.

Inashvili – the only opposing candidate as other opposition parties boycotted the election – claimed that the Republican Party used administrative resources to fabricate the election results.