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Interim Elections in Georgia

January 5, 2008
Today a special presidential election is held in Georgia. Seven presidential candidates participate in it. They are: #1 - Levan Gachechiladze (political movement  ”Tavisupleba” (”Freedom”)),  #2 - Arkadi (Badri) Patarkatsishvili (initiative group), #3 - Davit Gamkrelidze (political party – New Rights), #4 - Shalva Natelashvili (Labor Party of Georgia), #5 – Mikheil Saakashvili (political party – United National Movement), #6 – Giorgi Maisashvili (initiative group), #7 – Irina Sarishvili (initiative group).

Together with the presidential election, the plebiscite is also holding in Georgia. Voters should answer two questions:
1. Should the next parliamentary elections be held in the spring of 2008?

2. Should Georgia pursue integration into NATO?

3 372 836 citizens are registered to participate in the elections and plebiscite. 76 polling districts are operating in the territory of Georgia and 3440 poling stations are within it. The candidate will be the winner if he/she gets more than half of the votes (50% plus 1 vote) of the voters participating in the elections. The second stage will be appointed in case if none of the candidates gets enough votes.

40 polling stations are open abroad where those people can vote who are registered in the consulate. There are three military polling stations in Iraq and in Kosovo where Georgian soldiers taking part in peacekeeping operations can vote.

The voting process started at 8 a.m. in the morning and will stop at 8 p.m. in the evening.

The election in observed by 34 national and 69 international organizations. 133 journalists from Georgian and foreign media will highlight the elections in Georgia.

Two non-governmental organizations are conducting exit polls: “New Generation – New initiative” and “Fair Elections and International Society for democracy”.

Initial results of the elections will be known already the next day after elections and the final results will be known no later than the 8th day from the elections. Central Election Commission should publicize the final results through media within five days after collecting all the results.


Elections are not Held in Shatili Because of Bad Weather

#34 polling station of the election district #28 has not open because of  bad climate conditions.

According to the CEC, there is a heavy snow in this district today and resulting there was not possibility to open the polling station. There is not know yet, when will be the election held in this district.



There is a Poster of Saakashvili Observed in the Polling Station


Election process started with violations in Lagodekhi since morning – broadcasts radio Hereti. There was a poster of Mikhiel Saakashvili in the polling station which was open late.

According to Davit Matiashvili, the representative of the “New Rights” in Lagodekhi, the voting process in Kabali is holding with violations.
“Observers are not allowed to reach the voting cabin in the distance of 5 meters. In addition to that, when opening the polling station, first the voter put the ballot paper and than the controlling paper was put in the polling box. The controlling paper was not even signed by the head of the district commission”- states Davit Matiashvili to Hereti.
Together with the observers from Georgian NGOs, there are OSCE and other foreign observers at the #18 polling station of Lagodekhi #15 election district.


Citizens Living in the Territory Controlled by Kokoiti Participate in the Elections

Presidential election is holding peacefully in the territory of so called South Ossetian interim administration.
Soldiers of Georgian peacekeeping battalions dislocated in Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone has already participated in the election. There have been three special stations open for those soldiers. There are 23 polling stations on the interim administration.
It’s noteworthy that people living in the territory controlled by Edward Kokoiti are actively participating in the elections.

News