Presidential candidates make statements after casting votes

The ruling Georgian Dream-supported independent candidate Salome Zurabishvili has cast her vote at polling station No. 3 in Krtsanisi election district, in central Tbilisi, and said that had voted for a peaceful, united and democratic Georgia.

I hope that the time of hatred will end in the country. In the evening we will have the preliminary results of the elections and I will respect the decision of our voters,” Zurabishvili said.

Her opponent from the United National Movement and nine other opposition parties Grigol Vashadze cast his vote in the town of Kutaisi, in western Georgia, where he spoke about his high chances of winning and the “attempts of the Georgian Dream government to fabricate the elections.”

Grigol Vashadze cast vote in Kutaisi. Photo: IPN.

• Read the Agenda.ge story to learn why today’s elections are so special.
• See the Agenda.ge election map.

The government is preparing to fabricate the election results. The opposition observers have already written dozens of complaints.”

I appeal to all voters to postpone everything and come out to vote. We will win the race,” Vashadze said.

The presidential candidate of the European Georgia opposition party David Bakradze spoke about the importance of a high election turnout and criticised the Georgian Dream government for changing the rules of the presidential elections.

The president who will take the post six years later will be elected by 300 individuals and not by people through a direct vote. The amendment means that the government is afraid of its people,” Bakradze said.

Presidential candidate, former Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili stated at the polling station that he has made his choice, “but it is more important what choice will be made by the Georgian people.”

Fifty percent plus one is mandatory for winning the elections in the first round.

If none of the candidates receive the number of votes needed, a second round of voting will take place.