Opposition UNM plans unrest at polling stations, says Georgian Dream

Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party Irakli Kobakhidze says opposition United National Movement (UNM) party is planning provocations to cause unrest at two polling stations tonight as Georgia hosts the second round of the Parliamentary Elections.

One of the two districts where UNM planned unrest was in Marneuli in Georgia’s south - the same place where a clash occurred in the initial vote and resulted in votes being nullified. A re-vote was later held.

According to information we received, UNM majoritarian candidate in Marneuli [Akmamed] Imamkulievi intends to mobilise the youth and stage a provocation,” Kobakhidze said.

He claimed Imamkulievi intentionally planned to cause unrest at several polling stations and disrupt today's calm electoral environment.

We are warning everyone who might be involved in such provocations to avoid violations because these violations will be followed by proper reaction,” the GDDG official said.

Another district where provocations were planned was Mtatsminda in capital Tbilisi.

It seems like [UNM’s candidate] Nikoloz Rurua has already learned the preliminary results of the elections and intends to cause unrest,” Kobakhidze said.

He claimed to incite unrest, Rurua was using Allmedia - an organisation that Kobakhidze said was created and registered as a media organisation by UNM - and this organisation had observers at many election stations.

Rurua is planning to use these observers to cause unrest,” Kobakhidze said and he called on everyone to stay away from violent actions.

Generally speaking today’s vote was held in a calm environment without any major violations, the GDDG official said.