Opposition candidates for Tbilisi mayor comment on exit poll

Zaal Udumashvili from the United National Movement opposition, Elene Khoshtaria from the European Georgia opposition and an independent candidate for Tbilisi mayor’s post Aleko Elisashvili have made their comments after the first exit poll released. 

All of them stated exit polls are not official and they are waiting for the figures announced by the Central Election Commission. 

Udumashvili said it was "unbelievable for him” that the every second voter voted for the Georgian Dream Tbilisi mayoral candidate Kakha Kaladze. 

He stated that the ruling party was carrying out "total control and pressure” on voters and appealed to all opposition parties to "protect each vote.” 

Elene Khoshtaria stated she would fight for higher trust in the future. Photo from Khoshtaria's Facebook page. 

Khoshtaria stated that she would continue fight for those who voted for her and who did not despite the official outcomes of the elections. 

She stated the European Georgia was a "newly founded” party which already enjoyed big support from people. 

Elisashvili stated he did not believe in exit polls and unlike some "not serious politicians” he refrained from commenting of the unofficial figures.

He stated that "at least the ability of the run-off is high.” 

Elisashvili said none of his voters were "forced to election districts, they came because they love Tbilisi.” 

Elisashvili says exit polls are not true. Photo from Elisashvili's Facebook page. 

Rustavi2 channel announced the results obtained by the Edison Research company, commissioned by the television to conduct exit polls at stations across Georgia, as the voting process closed at 8pm local time.

The company's exit poll results feature a margin of error of 2-2.5 percent and represent results as of 6pm local time, with the figures for the mayoral race presented as below:

• Kakha Kaladze – Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia – 54.00%
• Zaal Udumashvili – United National Movement – 15.00%
• Aleko Elisashvili – Independent candidate – 14.00%
• Elene Khoshtaria – Election bloc Bakradze, Ugulava - European Georgia – 7.00%