PM Gakharia: ‘of course, no one can imagine a return to the past, I voted for the future’
PM Giorgi Gakharia noted that the election campaign period adhered to all democratic requirements. Photo: 1TV.ge.
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia cast his vote earlier today in Tbilisi, stating he ‘voted for the future as no one can imagine a return to the past.’
Gakharia noted that the election campaign period adhered to all democratic requirements.
The pre-election campaign and environment met all kinds of democratic requirements. Therefore, of course, I have voted for a European, Western state built on democratic values, justice and an economically strong foundation, and people who know the value of freedom and dignity”, said Gakharia.
Gakharia also said he voted for a Georgia that is ‘much better today than it was yesterday and that will be even better tomorrow.’
Georgians are heading to the polls today to elect the country’s 10th national legislature since independence from the Soviet Union back in 1991.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has cast her vote in central Tbilisi earlier today, stating that ‘today, we all vote to build a dream country - a democratic, European state.’
The ruling Georgian Dream party chairperson Bidzina Ivanishvili has stated that he has voted for the country’s development, stability, peace and Georgia’s European future.
Leader of the European Georgia opposition party David Bakradze has cast his ballot in today’s parliamentary elections, stating that he expects ‘big changes.’
Georgians are heading to the polls today to elect the country’s 10th national legislature since independence from the Soviet Union back in 1991. For the first time, the elections will be held per a mixed electoral system, with 120 members of parliament (MP) to be elected via party lists and the remaining 30 running in single-member majoritarian districts.An election bloc or party which receives less than 40.54 per cent of votes (less than 76 seats in the 150-member parliament) in the proportional elections will not be able to form a government.
The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs says parliamentary elections are proceeding peacefully and no serious violations have taken place so far throughout the country.
US Ambassador Kelly Degnan to Georgia addressed Georgians earlier today on election day, noting “these parliamentary elections are very important for Georgia, and the most important thing is to have a calm atmosphere and free elections for the people.”
Georgian law enforcers have launched investigations into six election-related violations which have taken place earlier today in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and in the southern Marneuli municipality. The MIA reports that opposition political party United National Movement supporter Zviad Kuprava was physically assaulted by several individuals at the #40 polling station in the Didi Digomi District of Tbilisi.
A total of 1,279,947 voters (36.45% of eligible voters) have cast their ballots in the Georgian parliamentary elections by 15 p.m.
A total of 681,583 voters (19.41% of eligible voters) have cast their ballots in the Georgian parliamentary elections by 12 p.m. throughout the country. Georgia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) says the most active polling station is again #19 in Racha-Lechkhumi and Svaneti, where 28.3 per cent of registered voters have cast their vote by 12 p.m.
A total of 292,587 voters (8.3% of eligible voters) have cast their ballots in the Georgian parliamentary elections by 10 a.m.