Georgian servicemen vote in Afghanistan
52 polling stations have been opened abroad in 38 foreign states including two in Afghanistan. Photo: Defence Ministry press office
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Georgian peacekeepers in Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan are casting their ballots in the Georgian parliamentary elections.
Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. at Bagram and Mazar-i-Sharif as well as the German camp Marmal. Georgian servicemen in Kabul meanwhile are casting their ballots via a mobile box.
Representatives of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia as well as different political parties are observing the elections there.
The Defence Ministry reports that voting is going on in a calm environment in line will electoral procedures.
Defence Minister and his wife vote in Tbilisi. Photo: Defence Ministry press office
Meanwhile, Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Gharibashvili cast a ballot in the Vake district of the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.
- President Zurabishvili: we all vote to build a dream country
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Gharibashvili told journalists after voting that he voted for the country’s peaceful and stable development.
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.”
EU Ambassador Carl Hartzell has expressed his hope that the voting process today in the parliamentary elections will be free from violations and intimidation, noting that this is the responsibility of all parties.
Opposition United National Movement member Dimitri Shashkin has been observed walking with a gun near the polling station in the Talaveri village of Bolnisi municipality earlier today. Shashkin, who admitted carrying the gun, said he is authorised by the interior ministry to do so. However, Shaskin said, he did not enter any polling stations.
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.