How much have political parties spent on ads ahead of municipal elections?

The ruling Georgian Dream  party has spent 2,794,718 GEL on election ads between August 2 and August 22.

The Georgian  Dream spent  the following amounts on:

• Outdoor ads - 2,274,308 GEL
• Ads in online media - 311,245 GEL
• Other advertising expenses - 209,164 GEL

Former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s party For Georgia has spent 79,893 GEL on election commercials between August 2 and August 22.

Of the sum,  the party spent the following amounts on:

• Outdoor ads - 76,209 GEL
• Ads in online media - 2,709 GEL
• Other advertising expenses - 975 GEL

Expenses for election commercials of other opposition political parties are as follows:

•  European Georgia - 51,471 GEL
•  United National Movement - 38,135 GEL 
• Strategy Builder - 9,800 GEL 
•  Lelo for Georgia - 4,303 GEL

The United National Movement has not had any outdoor ads ahead of the October 2 municipal elections.

UNM member Nika Oboladze told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that the party doesn’t have unlimited financial resources and ‘based on the available resources, they (the party) have other priorities’.

Election contributions for political parties are as follows:

• Georgian Dream - 4,009,900 GEL
• For Georgia - 233,338 GEL
• United National Movement - 57,890 GEL
• Lelo for Georgia - 49,500 GEL
• European Georgia - 43,830 GEL

The State Audit Office reports that opposition party Strategy Builder has not received contributions between August 2 and August 22.