Georgian PM: elections have been held in a peaceful and democratic environment
PM Bakhtadze has also expressed his gratitude towards people who have been involved in the organisation process of the elections, as well as observation missions.
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Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze has thanked voters for turning out to vote today.
“The exit polls have shown that Salome Zurabishvili has a convincing lead in the presidential elections. Now we have to await the CEC’s results,” he said.
PM Bakhtadze has also expressed his gratitude towards people who have been involved in the organisation process of the elections, as well as observation missions and NGOs.
The results of the exit polls held on the order of the Georgian Dream party show that Salome Zurabishvili has received 52.3% of the vote while UNM’s candidate Grigol Vashadze has 28.1% of votes.
After releasing the results of the exit polls the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Irakli Kobakhidze warned law enforcement agencies about ‘possible provocations’.
“The vote counting process needs special attention. We are informed about some provocations planned by UNM in Rustavi, Telavi, Batumi and Zugdidi election districts,” Kobakhidze said.
The Georgian Dream ruling party, the European Georgia opposition party and Rustavi 2 private broadcaster have released the results of exit polls they have conducted. The exit poll results were announced as soon as all polling stations in Georgia were closed at 8 pm.
38.16% of total voters or 1,337,284 people have cast their votes in the presidential elections. The polls will close at 20 p.m. tonight.
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Natia Mezvrishvili has held a briefing where she reported on the election process and incidents in or near polling stations.
Police have detained a representative of the Georgian Dream ruling party and a member of the united opposition [supporting presidential candidate Grigol Vashadze] in the village of Imiri of Marneuli region in eastern Georgia as the individuals were verbally and physically fighting with one another at the polling station.
The Central Election Commission of Georgia has announced 46,74 percent turnout for eligible voters during the 2018 Presidential Elections in the country.
The process of counting the votes in the Presidential Elections of Georgia can be followed live, courtesy of a video feed from the Central Election Commission of Georgia.
Independent candidate supported by the ruling party Salome Zurabishvili said she is happy that the results show that there will be no need for a second round of voting.