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YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Some changes are being undertaken in the Georgian electoral code prior to the parliamentary elections. Recognizing as basis the claim submitted to the Constitutional Court, it has been decided to reorganize the polling districts. “Armenpress” reports expert in Georgian studies Joni Melikyan told the journalists about this.
“Back in 2012 a claim was submitted to the Constitutional Court of Georgia over the fact that there are some polling districts in the country with 6 thousand voters, others with 150 thousand. The Constitutional Court deemed this fact anti-constitutional and decided to form average polling districts with 47 thousand and 5 hundred voters”, the expert said.
Melikyan mentioned that the changes in the code will create serious troubles for the Armenian community. According to the legislative changes, polling districts of Ninotsminda and Akhalkalaki will unify in one polling district, and 17 villages of Akhalkalaki will unify with Borjomi. This means that the Armenian communities can nominate only one deputy.
“The move raised discontent in Javakhk. MPs, leadership of self-government bodies speak about that. The Armenian community can make use of the proposals made by the Venice commission”, Joni Melikyan said, adding that the commission had proposed not to make any changes in areas populated by ethnic minorities in Georgia.