President announces Governor and Mayoral snap elections for October 8

Today the President of Georgia released a decree which reads snap elections for several Governors and Mayors are scheduled on October 8, 2016 - the same day as Georgia’s Parliamentary Elections. 

The snap elections for governors will take place in eastern Bolnisi,  western Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha, Kharagauli and Chiatura municipalities,  while a mayoral election will be held in southern Akhaltsikhe municipality.

The extraordinary elections became necessary after several current governors and a mayor of the municipalities were named as majoritarian candidates for the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party. 

Consequently, they are now unable to fulfil their current responsibilities.

Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, has already approved the President’s decree.