British ambassador: I hope the election process continues calmly, parties respect official results
British Ambassador to Georgia Mark Clayton has observed about nine polling stations in Tbilisi. Photo: British Embassy, Tbilisi.
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British Ambassador to Georgia Mark Clayton has expressed his hope that the election process will continue ‘as calmly as it has until this moment’ and that ‘every party will respect the official results’ of today’s parliamentary elections in Georgia.
Clayton, who observed about nine polling stations in the capital of Tbilisi earlier today, thanked the Georgian Central Election Commission for providing all measures to ensure observers were able to work properly.
დღეს მე დამკვირვებელი ვარ. მე მოვუწოდებ საქართველოს მოქალაქეებს წავიდნენ არჩევნებზე და დააფიქსირონ თავისი ხმა. Observing Georgian parliamentary elections today. I encourage everyone to vote and have their voice heard. #GVote2020 pic.twitter.com/or80ouZygy
— Mark Clayton (@MarkClaytonFCDO) October 31, 2020
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I was in Tbilisi and its surroundings today; we have observed about nine polling stations. Everywhere we went the members of the Central Election Commission were very well disposed and did their best to support us (as well as other observers). I would like to thank the Central Election Commission for this,” the Georgian Public Broadcaster has cited Clayton as saying.
He said that the UK is a ‘big supporter’ of Georgia’s democratic development, adding that the country ‘really deserves the electoral process to take place in a fair and calm environment.’
Clayton welcomed the high election turnout
In total 1,607,530 Georgian voters have cast their ballots in the Georgian parliamentary elections across the country by 17 p.m., the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia has announced. Voter turnout now stands at 45.77 per cent.
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan says “It’s very important that as the officials begin to count the ballots, supporters of all political parties respect the work of election officials, accept the official results calmly, and show that these elections meet international standards from start to finish”.
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.
Clashes have taken place between the ruling Georgian Dream and opposition United National Movement party supporters in Gldani constituency in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi periodically throughout the afternoon.
Opposition parties in Georgia claim that the ruling Georgian Dream party has lost the parliamentary elections. Giga Bokeria of the European Georgia said one hour before the end of the elections that 'according to all our data the Ivanishvili regime has been defeated'.
Exit polls commissioned by Mtavari Arkhi, Formula TV and Rustavi 2 say the ruling Georgian Dream party received between 41-53% in the proportional part of the elections. An election bloc or party which receives less than 40.54 per cent of votes (less then 76 seats in the 150-member parliament) in the proportional elections will not be able to form a government. Unlike previous elections, the parties which will receive at least one per cent of total votes will be allowed into parliament.
The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs has started an investigation into nine incidents that were observed during the parliamentary elections today, announced Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kakha Sabanadze. He said that in total 10 individuals were arrested in relation to seven cases of administrative violations.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has thanked international partners and observers for their ‘commitment to Georgia’s democracy’ during the election day.