President Zurabishvili casts ballot, expresses hope polarisation will end in the country
A total of 1,830 polling stations opened at 8 a.m. in 20 of 64 election constituencies, including all five big cities of Georgia - Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Batumi and Poti as Georgian is holding municipal run-offs today. Photo: Administration of the President of Georgia.
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Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who has cast her ballot in today’s municipal run-offs, said she hopes polarisation will end in Georgia.
I think it is necessary for all of us to learn unity and peace. I voted for that. I hope that the polarisation which we [the Georgian citizens] saw in the pre-election period will end in the country. Otherwise, only our neighbour's interest will be served”, said Zurabishvili.
A total of 1,830 polling stations opened at 8 a.m. in 20 of 64 election constituencies, including all five big cities of Georgia - Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Batumi and Poti as Georgian is holding municipal run-offs today.
There are 2,088,722 voters registered for the municipal run-offs, including 1,002,525 in Tbilisi. The voters will head to polls to elect 20 mayors and 42 majoritarian members of the city councils (Sakrebulos).
Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava has cast his ballot in today’s municipal run-offs saying he voted for the ruling party candidate Kakha Kaladze.
Georgian is holding municipal run-offs in 20 of 64 election constituencies, including all five big cities of Georgia - Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Batumi and Poti. A total of 2,088,722 registered voters can elect mayors and city council (Sakrebulo) members at 1,830 polling stations countrywide.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) has called on the public to participate in the municipal election run-offs which will be held in Georgia on October 30. The CEC announced earlier today that the run-off will be held in 5 self-governing cities, 15 municipalities and 24 election districts.
A total of 358,782 voters (17.18 per cent of eligible voters) have cast their ballots in the Georgian municipal run-offs as of 12 p.m. today. Meanwhile, the voter turnout stands at 16.5 per cent in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi where a total of 164,929 voters have cast their ballots.
Five people have been detained for physical assault near polling station No. 20 in the western Georgian town of Zugdidi, the Interior Ministry reports. The ministry representative Ketevan Kovziashvili has informed the public of the activities aimed to ensure safe and peaceful environment during the municipal run-offs.
The former president of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili has cast his ballot in today’s run-off municipal elections, saying he voted for ‘oppositional changes’ and a candidate from ‘his neighborhood.' Margvelashvili also encouraged fellow citizens to go out and vote as ‘the weather is quite nice and warm.’
Transparency International (TI) Georgia says that its observers have recorded 50 minor and serious violations during today’s municipal election run-offs, as of 13:30.
Former prime minister of and leader of For Georgia political party Giorgi Gakharia has cast his ballot in today’s municipal run-offs, and said he voted ‘for Georgia,’ but not for any candidate. Gakharia explained that by coming to the run-offs, he performed his ‘civilian duty.’
A total of 825,129 voters (39.5 per cent of eligible voters) have cast their ballots in the Georgian municipal run-offs as of 5 p.m. today.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who has cast his ballot in today’s municipal elections, said he voted for the country’s ‘peaceful development.’ PM Garibashvili, who arrived at the polling station with his family, asked the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) supporters to cast their ballots as well.